Mukesh Kumar dons Virat Kohli’s iconic No. 18 jersey vs England Lions, sparks outrage
India A pacer, Mukesh Kumar, took the sphere in Canterbury sporting the No. 18 jersey through the ongoing unofficial Take a look at in opposition to the England Lions – a quantity lengthy related to former India captain Virat Kohli. The incident has triggered robust reactions from followers, coming simply weeks after Kohli introduced his retirement from Take a look at cricket on 12 Could.
Kohli made the jersey quantity 18 virtually inseparable from himself by sporting it all through his red-ball profession. He scored 9,230 runs in 123 Exams and led India in 68 matches, establishing himself as one of many best batters of his technology. The former Indian captain described his sudden retirement as a troublesome however crucial choice, bringing the curtain down on a golden period.
So when Mukesh walked out sporting the identical quantity through the first unofficial Take a look at, followers had been fast to precise their displeasure on social media. A number of posts criticised the transfer, with some demanding that the BCCI retire the jersey in honour of Kohli, much like the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10.
“Mukesh Kumar sporting our Virat Kohli’s quantity 18 jersey. How dare he? What’s his Instagram?” learn one extensively shared submit on X, reflecting the sentiment amongst Kohli’s passionate supporters.
Mukesh has sometimes worn No. 49 in earlier appearances. It stays unclear whether or not the jersey change was intentional or an administrative oversight. The BCCI has not formally responded, and there was no phrase on whether or not Kohli’s quantity will likely be retired throughout codecs.
In the meantime, Mukesh made his presence felt with the ball.Mukesh took three wickets to assist India A stage a powerful comeback, regardless of Max Holden’s eighth first-class hundred, with England Lions stumbling to 333 for 5 at lunch on the penultimate day of the four-day unofficial Take a look at on Sunday.
In a single day centurion Tom Haines (142 off 208 balls) remained on the crease, accompanied by Dan Mousley (2) on the break. The Lions now path by 224 runs.
Whereas Mukesh’s bowling effort drew reward, the jersey problem continues to dominate dialog on-line. With feelings nonetheless uncooked following Kohli’s Take a look at retirement, the quantity 18 stays greater than only a shirt – for a lot of, it represents an period of Indian cricket they don’t seem to be able to let go of.
