Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli (Source: AFP)
In a significant development, Rishabh Pant made a much-awaited return to cricket on Thursday (October 30), leading India A in the first four-day match against South Africa A at the Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru. The match marks Pant’s comeback after a three-month gap, following a fractured toe during the Manchester Test against England earlier this year.
Pant dons Virat Kohli’s iconic No. 18 jersey
However, during this ongoing match between India A and South Africa A, what caught everyone’s attention was Pant's choice of jersey. Pant was spotted wearing the No. 18 jersey, which is associated with Virat Kohli in Indian cricket.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) and shared several pictures of Rishabh Pant wearing this iconic jersey. Several fans even praised Pant and mentioned that this could be a 'special tribute' to Kohli. Several fans also believed that Rishabh Pant had changed his shirt number from 17 to 18.
The No. 18 has long been an integral part of Kohli’s illustrious career. Since Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, many fans have called on the BCCI to retire his number as a mark of respect. However, BCCI has not made a decision regarding this.
Why did Rishabh Pant wear Jersey No. 18?
It is important to mention that in the India A setup, jersey numbers are not fixed so players can opt for random numbers without their names printed on the back. These numbers only hold significance in official international matches. Hence, it is possible that Pant simply picked or was handed the No. 18 by chance.
Interestingly, it is important to note that this is not the first time an player has worn the No. 18 jersey since Kohli’s Test retirement. In June 2025, fast bowler Mukesh Kumar was also seen donning the number during an unofficial Test against the England Lions.
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