LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka moved by RCB fans¡¯ 'fitting' tribute to Virat Kohli at Chinnaswamy: 'Simple¡but effective'
RCB fans recently turned Chinnaswamy into a sea of white to honour Virat Kohli after his Test retirement. LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka praised the heartfelt gesture by fans, calling it ¡°simple but effective.¡±
The Indian Premier League 2025 resumed on May 17 after a short break owing to Indo-Pak tensions, and fans in Bengaluru were all set for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's clash with the Kolkata Knight Riders at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. While the match didn¡¯t happen ¡ª thanks to relentless rain ¡ªthe evening stood out for a different reason. RCB fans, dressed in white T-shirts with Virat Kohli¡¯s No. 18, turned the stadium into a heartfelt tribute to the former Test captain. The moment wasn¡¯t just noticed by fans but also by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka, who called it ¡°simple but effective¡± in a social media post.
Sanjiv Goenka calls the tribute 'simple but effective'
Goenka, founder of RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, is also a known sports enthusiast. On Sunday, he took to Instagram to appreciate RCBians' tribute for Virat Kohli, sharing a photo of the stands filled with fans in white. Alongside the photo, he wrote, ¡°Simple¡ but effective¡ a fitting tribute to Virat Kohli.¡±
Coming from the owner of a rival franchise, the message struck a chord with cricket fans across teams, as it highlighted that moments like these go beyond competition ¡ªthey¡¯re about shared respect for legends of the game.
RCB fans show up for Kohli, rain or not
Despite the rain wiping out the match, RCB fans made sure the day still meant something. They showed up in droves, dressed in coordinated white shirts with Kohli¡¯s No. 18 on their backs, quietly filling the stadium with a sense of unity and respect. It wasn¡¯t anything loud, but just a sea of white, standing for the man who gave his all every time he wore the Indian jersey. Photos from the stands soon made their way online, and fans from each franchise stood together in respect for RCBians who paid a perfect tribute to their star player.
Virat Kohli¡¯s Test retirement hits fans hard
Just a week ago, Kohli shocked fans by announcing his retirement from Test cricket, a format where he¡¯s not only excelled but also led India through some of its most iconic wins.
He wrote, "It's been 14 years since I first wore the baggy blue in Test cricket. Honestly, I never imagined the journey this format would take me on. It's tested me, shaped me, and taught me lessons I'll carry for life," Kohli said in a social media statement on Monday morning. "There's something deeply personal about playing in whites. The quiet grind, the long days, the small moments that no one sees but that stay with you forever.
"As I step away from this format, it's not easy¡ªbut it feels right. I've given it everything I had, and it's given me back so much more than I could've hoped for. I'm walking away with a heart full of gratitude¡ªfor the game, for the people I shared the field with, and for every single person who made me feel seen along the way. I'll always look back at my Test career with a smile."
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