Among the cricketing gods, there are few bright stars like Virat Kohli. Popularly known as run machine and considered one of the finest contemporary cricketer, Kohli has played his role to make an irreplaceable impact in the cricket world. However, other than his exceptional batting abilities and love for the game, there is one thing that a lot of fans get curious about – Kohli's jersey no. 18! For not only his career, this number has become a symbol for him how everything evolved and lived through it, how he held tight to his fate and also how it is a remembrance of someone very special in his life.
What Virat Kohli's Jersey Number Signifies
Each sports person is alloted with unique jersey number. 18 is not just a number for Virat Kohli; it's an emotion. Unlike some random number, his jersey represents a sentimental tie to his private life. Kohli's father, Prem Kohli, died when he was only 18 years old. For Mahmood it was the start of a journey, one that included playing under-19s cricket for India at the same time. This bittersweet connection to the number 18 has subsequently remained his perpetual homage to his father's influence and blessings.
Donning the Indian jersey with 18 at the back means responsibility and remembrance, for Kohli it is rememberance of his coach who first introduced him to this sweet love and supported in fulfilling his dream during his formative years.
The Ascent of World Cricket's Number 18
Whenever Virat Kohli takes the field with a “18” on his back, the air reverberates in all corners of stadiums packed to capacity. Throughout the years, there number has seen:
- His maiden century in international cricket came against Sri Lanka in 2009.
- India's World Cup-winning 2011 campaign.
- Overseas Test victories in Australia and England as captain.
- Infinite number of ODI chases where he showed his composure by taking India home with surprising level of consistency.
Every run, every milestone and every record – Virat Kohli jersey number 18 is now Virat Kohli himself. Today, it's not just a number - rather, a cherished entity in the cricketing world who is loved by millions and missed dearly.
What Makes Jersey 18 So Special to the Fans?
Virat Kohli's brilliance and his emotional touch with the number 18 has turned it into an iconic figure across the globe! The kids always want to buy India jerseys with his number on them and walk around, as proud as punch of their hero. While it may be annoying for regular folk, fans can own jersey no 18 just like their hero and celebrate his passion, aggression and pursuit of excellence.
The number has also provided a discussion cue around his batting records, innings of grit and leadership era. It's a swift shorthand for Kohli's cricketing personality - the middle way between aggression and discipline.
Kohli And His Widespread Appeal For 18
It's not a national cricket discussion after all -Virat Kohli still wears the same number when he plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). For RCB's followers, jersey No. 18 is equally special, since he has been the franchise's poster boy ever since its inception in 2008. Even though the team hasn't lifted an IPL trophy yet, Kohli's loyalty and that iconic No.66 continue to reflect hope, passion and belief.
This is interestingly his date of marriage with Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma i.e. 11th December 2017 too adds to [And for that matter, even the wedding day (i.e. 11) and date of birth/5th November also do captivatingly for personal numerology regarding 18! And while fans can argue about coincidences, there's no question he formed a profound personal attachment to the number.
Dark Chapters From the History of Cricket: Number 18
There are few numbers in cricket that have such reverberation as 18, accompanied by the name of Virat Kohli. Just as there's no getting away from 10 when it comes to Sachin Tendulkar or 7 and MS Dhoni, now number 18 has been forever associated with King Kohli. His consistent performances, unforgettable hundreds and match winning knocks have seen this jersey standing tall in the annals of cricket.
If the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ever does retire jersey numbers, Jersey No 18 could well be retired one sunny day. And there would be no other cricketer getting into the jersey and that will firmly establish a legacy in Indian cricket for many, many years.
Conclusion
Virat Kohli's time number 18 isn't randomly chosen, it carries a significance that is symbolic of his life, dedication and honour of his father. Through the years, the number has transformed into an identity of power, will and indefatigable chase for greatness. From Test whites to ODI blues and RCB reds, the number has been synonymous with some of the most memorable moments in cricket history and is one of the most iconic numbers in modern-day cricket.
To fans, jersey 18 will always be worn by this great batsman named Virat Kohli– the legend, the fighter and the pride of Indian cricket. And that number on his back is, as he adds more and more chapters to this extraordinary story called his career, not just a collection of digits; it is history in motion.