IPL 2025: RCB fans brave the rain, keep cheering and chanting Virat Kohli's name at Chinnaswamy

With a reworked schedule and a few replacements across teams, the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 returned after a one-week suspension caused by rising cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan. The IPL board decided there was no better way to resume the season than the way it began ¡ª with a clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Bengaluru.

It's a must-win match for KKR to keep their slim Playoff hopes alive, while RCB ¡ª currently sitting in second place ¡ª will seal their spot in the next round with a victory. However, one major obstacle stands in their way: heavy, persistent rain.

If our passion and technology could turn this into reality, we'd have the game on already. ???

But for now, dear rain, please take the bench and let us play! ??#PlayBold #????RCB #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/nKDOmNReF6

¡ª Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 17, 2025

RCB fans' tribute to Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli's sudden retirement from Test cricket at the age of 36 sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. With no official farewell match to mark the end of his red-ball career, fans turned to X (formerly Twitter), urging others to wear the white India Test jersey with Kohli's name and number as a tribute.

#18. ?? pic.twitter.com/8fqGfyVKVt

¡ª Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 17, 2025

In response, photos began surfacing online showing street vendors outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium selling white Kohli jerseys ¡ª a notable change from their usual stock of red RCB kits.

Red Sea???? Turned Into White ? Today

Fans wear white to tribute to the King Kohli At the Chinnaswamy Stadium ???

"RohitSharmaStand" #ViratKohli#RCBvsKKR #ipl2025update pic.twitter.com/olBRZdcwSK

¡ª He??nt (@Hemant_183) May 17, 2025

However, the gesture wasn't without concern. Some fans worried whether stadium authorities would permit entry in white jerseys, referencing a previous incident where supporters wearing the now-famous "jail" jersey were turned away.

Those black-and-white striped "jail" jerseys were first seen during the RCB vs CSK match on May 3 ¡ª a cheeky response to CSK fans bringing lollipops to the Chepauk Stadium to mock RCB.

RCB fans keep cheering for Kohli ¡ª even in the rain

Despite the downpour, RCB fans have shown up in full spirit, donning either the red RCB jersey or the symbolic white Test jersey. When the big screen displayed Kohli's achievements, chants of his name erupted around the stadium.

Chinnaswamy isn't red tonight.

- A Tribute To The G.O.A.T ??#chinnaswamystadium #Chinnaswamy #RCBvsKKR pic.twitter.com/wwLE5fN1dq

¡ª Prabhakar (@itz_Prabhaa) May 17, 2025

Though the weather forecast suggests slim chances of play tonight, the stands remain lively ¡ª a testament to the fans' unwavering support for their team and their beloved No. 18.

Crazy scenes at Chinnaswamy, Bengaluru!
Even nature's turned up in white¡ªpaying tribute to King Kohli.
When it's Virat Kohli, even the skies know who's boss.#RCBvsKKR #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/YQJJFsOfnX

¡ª Priyanshu Verma (@iPriyanshVerma) May 17, 2025

RCB vs KKR: Squads

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB): Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Liam Livingstone, Swapnil Singh, Philip Salt, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh, Nuwan Thushara, Josh Hazlewood

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR): Rahmanullah Gurbaz(w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy, Harshit Rana, Anrich Nortje, Mayank Markande, Anukul Roy, Luvnith Sisodia, Spencer Johnson, Moeen Ali, Quinton de Kock, Venkatesh Iyer, Rovman Powell, Chetan Sakariya