When Cricket Returns Amidst the Shadows of War, a Sea of White Awaits Virat — Today’s Most Emotional IPL Match

Sports News: 8 days 192 hours, A whole week that shook Indian cricket, politics and emotions. This was the first time when both the war and the farewell captured more emotions than cricket. The sounds of rockets and fighter jets echoing in the sky between India and Pakistan echoed in such a way that even an 'invincible' tournament like IPL had to be stopped midway.

Now when Bengaluru's M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will be lit up again on May 17, there will be lights, but the colors will be different. There will be noise, but the tune will be different. And hearts? They have changed completely - especially regarding Virat Kohli.

No farewell match, no guard of honor - Virat's silence broke everyone

When the country was fighting on the border, Virat Kohli shook everyone by taking a silent decision - retirement from Test cricket. No ceremony, no emotional video, just a statement and it was over! As if an arrow was fired and hit straight in the heart.

Virat has closed the white page of his part, but his fans do not want to let it remain incomplete. That is why now the ground of Bangalore is going to change – the ground which is Kohli's home will now become his farewell stage. But this farewell will not be of red color… it will be a 'white salute'.

It is not just cricket, but emotion

When the IPL was stopped after 57 matches, no one had thought that its first match after returning would be so heavy. Not only on the players, but also on the spectators. What Sunil Gavaskar said is echoing in the heart of every fan today – "Instead of noise and dance, tribute and respect." This is the reason why BCCI has planned a silent tribute ceremony before the match – for both the martyrs and Virat.

When the stadium will wear white, not red – the craze of 'white farewell'

This time social media has written history. '#WhiteForVirat', which started with a fan movement, is now going to fall in Bangalore as snow – emotional snow. Now, Team India's Test jersey will be worn on the steps of the stadium, not RCB's - even if it is fake, but with true feelings. The farewell that Virat did not get at Wankhede, he will now get at Chinnaswamy.

KKR vs RCB - The battle of hearts is bigger than the playoffs

The points of the match are important - KKR needs two wins and RCB needs one. But the real battle of this match is not of numbers, but of eyes and moist eyes. When Rajat Patidar's team will come on the field, hundreds of eyes will be looking for Virat on every ball. Maybe he will score less runs this time, but he will make a place in the hearts again.

This is not just IPL - this is the return of the feelings of a country. And Virat is the face of that feeling.