Bengaluru, May 17 (UNI) Cricket fans thronged merchandise stalls outside Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Saturday, snapping up memorabilia and jerseys bearing Virat Kohli’s iconic number 18 ahead of the IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kolkata Knight Riders.

This is Kohli’s first match appearance since announcing his retirement from Test cricket earlier this month, and the occasion has added an emotional charge to what is otherwise a high-stakes league fixture.

Supporters sporting the India and RCB stalwart’s name on their backs were seen queueing at official merchandise counters hours before the evening match. Many fans described the jersey purchases as a tribute to Kohli’s illustrious Test career, which spanned over a decade and earned him global admiration.

Stadium officials said merchandise sales saw a marked surge in the lead up to the match, with Kohli’s Test-themed gear—especially white jerseys with the Indian flag insignia—selling out within hours.

Kohli, who played more than a hundred Tests and scored nearly 10,000 runs in the format, remains a central figure in RCB’s IPL campaign.

While today’s match marks his a return in the shorter format, the atmosphere in Bengaluru suggests fans are still celebrating his red-ball legacy.

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