WATCH: Replica of Virat Kohli’s Test jerseys sold outside Chinnaswamy Stadium ahead of RCB vs KKR encounter

Former Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli’s decision to retire from the Test format has left many fans in shock. The 36-year-old decided to call time on his 123-game Test career on Monday. Once the news was confirmed, several Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans came up with a special gesture. 

Social media was abuzz with a special initiative where the fans were asked to wear the Test whites with Kohli’s name and number. The initiative was set to take place ahead of the IPL 2025 game against Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday. Ahead of the game, vendors were seen selling replicas of Kohli’s Test jersey outside the stadium. 

It's not a test match , it's RCB's league match in IPL fans are purchasing white jersey outside Bangalore stadium to support Kohli's bid adieu from test @imVkohli @RCBTweets @IPL pic.twitter.com/l2EhyqBaKz

— vipul kashyap (@kashyapvipul) May 17, 2025

One set of RCB fans had opposed the move to sport all whites, as it could cause difficulty in spotting the ball. Kohli’s decision to walk away from Test cricket followed after Rohit Sharma had retired from the format on 7th May. For the first time in over a decade, Rohit and Virat won't be part of the Indian Test side ahead of the tour of England. 

Ravi Shastri’s massive statement on Kohli’s retirement 

Former India coach Ravi Shastri revealed his conversation with Kohli ahead of the latter’s Test retirement. Shastri and Kohli had formed a great bond when the former took over as the coach of the national side. India’s former coach was recently speaking on the ICC Review show where he revealed why Kohli retired from Test cricket. 

Shastri said, “I did speak to him about it, I think a week before his announcement and his mind was very clear that he’d given us everything. There were no regrets. There were one or two questions I asked, and that’s a personal conversation which, you know, he mentioned very clearly. There were no doubts in his mind, which made me think, ‘Yes, the time is right.’ The mind has told his body that it’s time to go.”

The former India coach also said that he spoke to Rohit Sharma and had a short chat. “I saw Rohit a lot at the toss. At the toss, you don't get enough time to speak. Though I did put my hand on his shoulder in one of the games. I think it was in Mumbai, and I told him, If I were the coach, you would have never not played that last Test match. You would have played that last Test match because the series wasn't over. And I'm not someone who threw in the towel with the scoreline 2-1. If your mindset is you feel you are… that's not the stage; you leave a team," said Shastri.