The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has addressed the controversy that erupted after Mukesh Kumar was spotted wearing Virat Kohli’s iconic No. 18 jersey during an India A match against the England Lions in Canterbury.
Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, holds legendary status in the format, and fans were quick to express outrage over what they perceived as disrespect.
Photos of Mukesh wearing the No. 18 jersey in the first unofficial four-day Test sparked a backlash on social media, with some fans demanding the number be officially retired, as was the case informally with Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 and MS Dhoni’s No. 7.
BCCI Clarifies Jersey Rules
A senior BCCI official clarified to PTI that India A matches do not follow fixed jersey number assignments, and jerseys usually do not carry player names. “Anyone can pick any random number,” the official said. “The jersey numbers are only sacrosanct for international games.”
Mukesh Kumar, who wore No. 49 during his senior Test debut in the West Indies, would continue with that number if selected for official matches.
Will Kohli’s No. 18 Be Retired?
While there is no formal jersey retirement system in Indian cricket, legacy numbers are often left untouched out of respect. The official hinted that, much like Sachin’s No. 10 and Dhoni’s No. 7, Kohli’s No. 18 is unlikely to be assigned again in Test cricket, especially with his active status in ODIs and T20s.
The precedent suggests that future Test debutants are expected to avoid Kohli’s jersey number, out of reverence. This was evident as B Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh, set to debut in the upcoming five-Test series against England (starting June 20), have already been allotted different numbers.
Past Controversies Over Iconic Jerseys
In 2017, Shardul Thakur faced severe backlash for wearing Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 jersey during his ODI debut and had to change it shortly afterward. Since Dhoni’s retirement, no player has worn No. 7, further solidifying the unofficial tradition.
Kohli’s Test Legacy
Virat Kohli retires from Tests with over 8,500 runs, 29 centuries, and a pivotal role in India’s resurgence as a dominant red-ball side, including historic wins in Australia and a World Test Championship final appearance. His No. 18, while not yet retired officially, carries an emotional weight fans and players are reluctant to tamper with.
While the BCCI may not codify jersey retirements, it’s increasingly clear that No. 18 will be treated with the same sanctity as Nos. 10 and 7 — symbolic of India’s modern cricketing legends.
