NEW DELHI: As the IPL 2025 resumed following a week-long break due to rising border tensions, all eyes turned to M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) faced off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The fixture was more than just another league clash; it marked Virat Kohli’s first appearance since his sudden retirement from Test cricket, announced during the tournament suspension on May 12.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Despite heavy rain disrupting the evening and delaying the toss, thousands of fans packed the stadium, donning white T-shirts as part of a coordinated tribute to Kohli’s legendary red-ball career. The initiative, trending across social media platforms, aimed to turn the stadium into a “sea of white” in honour of the former India captain.Who’s that IPL player?Amid swirling speculation around Kohli’s cricketing future, England and RCB batter Phil Salt offered clarity on the mood inside the dressing room. When asked about discussions surrounding Kohli’s Test retirement, Salt replied, “No, not so much to be honest. We have not spoken much about it. Virat isn’t someone to speak about it at this moment. It’s all about the playoffs and group stages, that’s the focus.”

Tribute jerseys flooded local markets in Bengaluru in the lead-up to the game, with fans braving the rain and long queues to be part of the moment.Saturday’s match carried high stakes. RCB, second on the points table with 16 points, stood on the brink of playoff qualification. A win would confirm their spot in the top two. For KKR, placed sixth, the match was crucial — they must win both remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way to secure a playoff berth.While the rain paused the on-field action, the off-field emotion around Kohli was already a full-blown spectacle.