Indian fast bowler Mukesh Kumar recently found himself in the spotlight—not for his performance, but for the number on his back. During an unofficial Test match for India A against England Lions, Mukesh was spotted wearing jersey number 18—famously associated with Virat Kohli. This led to a storm of reactions from fans, many of whom considered it a sign of disrespect to the legendary cricketer.

As the uproar grew, a senior official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) addressed the issue. Speaking to PTI, the official explained:

"Mukesh wore number 18 for India A, but jersey numbers in the India A team are not fixed because names are not printed on them. Any player can choose any number. Jersey numbers are important only in international matches."

So, the usage of number 18 was purely coincidental and held no official significance. It’s a common practice in India A and domestic teams where players often rotate or temporarily use numbers without any restrictions or symbolic weight.

With Kohli retiring from T20Is and Tests, discussions have surfaced about retiring his iconic jersey number 18. This wouldn’t be unprecedented—Team India has already retired MS Dhoni’s number 7 and Sachin Tendulkar’s number 10, ensuring no player wears those legendary numbers again.

In Kohli’s case, the immense contribution he’s made to Indian cricket—combined with his global fanbase—makes a strong case for doing the same. After Sachin’s number was briefly worn by Shardul Thakur, backlash led the BCCI to quietly retire the number. It’s unlikely BCCI would repeat such a mistake with Kohli’s legacy.

While he wore number 18 in the India A match, Mukesh Kumar’s official Test jersey number remains 49, the one he wore during his debut against the West Indies. Going forward, he’s expected to retain that number in international matches.

New additions to the Indian Test squad, Sai Sudharsan and Arshdeep Singh, have already been assigned distinct jersey numbers, avoiding any overlap with legendary players. The BCCI appears careful not to repeat the controversy that surrounded the number 10.