On Thursday, May 18, senior Indian batsman Virat Kohli explained the cosmic link with his jersey number 18. With over 15 years of international experience, Kohli is widely regarded as the finest hitter of contemporary times across all forms.
Kohli rose to popularity when India won the ICC U19 World Cup in Malaysia in 2008, and he shortly made his senior men’s team debut in an ODI bilateral series against Sri Lanka.
He has 25322 runs in international cricket for India, trailing only Sachin Tendulkar (34357).
Since he began playing higher-level cricket, Virat Kohli has worn the jersey with the number 18 printed behind it for both India and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the IPL.
On Star Sports, Virat Kohli explained the meaning of the number and his cosmic connection with it:
There has to be a cosmic connection with this number. I find it quite surreal even now to be honest when I see so many people wearing my jersey number and name.”
“It’s quite surreal because I never imagined that I would be in this position one day. I was a kid wanting to wear my hero’s jersey at a certain given point.”
Kohli added:
“To be honest 18 started off just being a number that was given to me when I opened that first India U19 jersey. I never asked for it, it was just given to me.”
“But then it ended up becoming a very important number in my life. My debut came for India on 18th of August, 2008. My father passed away on 18th of December, 2006. Two of the most significant dates in my life happened to be 18.”
Virat Kohli and RCB look to consolidate IPL 2023 playoffs berth
On Thursday night at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bangalore will hope for a convincing against SRH.
A win for RCB would only help them jump Mumbai Indians into the top four, whilst a defeat will certainly end their chances of qualifying.
Kohli has been a key contributor with the bat for RCB this season, scoring 438 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 131.53, including six fifty-plus scores.