Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Virat Kohli didn’t get a chance to bat on a day when fans had planned a special tribute for him. The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 started again on Saturday (17th May) after a break of about 10 days.
Fans Pay Tribute to Virat Kohli in White Jerseys Despite the Rain
However, the return of the tournament didn’t go as planned for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). The match between RCB and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, was called off due to rain without a single ball being bowled.
It was also a disappointing day for fans who came in large numbers wearing white jerseys to pay tribute to Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket. He shared the news on social media just before the Test series against England.
A Symbolic Moment: Pigeons Soar Over Chinnaswamy Stadium
After the announcement, Royal Challengers Bengaluru fans planned to give Kohli a farewell by showing up at the stadium in his Test jersey. Even though the rain spoiled the match, the fans stayed until the end to show their love and support.
Despite the rain, a beautiful moment happened during the evening. A group of white pigeons flew over the stadium, and many people saw it as a symbolic and touching tribute to Kohli and his amazing Test career.
The video of the beautiful moment has been going viral on the internet, watch it here:
just WOW!🥺♥️
nature's tribute to #ViratKohli as well…😍
🕊🏟🕊
even the whites in the sky made rounds over #Chinnaswamy
— WhiteArmy🤍#RCBvKKR #IPL2025 #RCB pic.twitter.com/cFJw12bDbP— ಸನತ್ ಕುಮಾರ್ (@IamSanathKumar) May 17, 2025
Virat Kohli had a brilliant Test career. Since his debut in 2011, he was one of the best in red-ball cricket. As captain, he led India in 68 Tests, winning 40 and drawing 11, making him the most successful Test captain in Indian history. He scored 9,230 runs in 123 matches with an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries and 31 fifties.
As for the IPL 2025 match, the washout helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru move to the top of the table with 17 points. Kolkata Knight Riders, with just 12 points from 13 games, are now out of the playoff race. RCB need only one more win to officially qualify and look strong contenders for the title.
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