Are there no Virat Kohli fans in Kerala? Rohit Sharma 'Hitman' mania steals the show during India vs West Indies ODI

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Are there no Virat Kohli fans in Kerala? Rohit Sharma 'Hitman' mania steals the show during India vs West Indies ODI originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • This could be the last time Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play an international match for India in Kerala.
  • Rohit's welcome, including a 50-foot cutout, dominated social media in Thiruvananthapuram.
  • Kohli's fan base showed up too, with a 12x30-foot banner unveiled at Greenfield Stadium.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are already making waves in Kerala

Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have shared a dressing room for close to two decades, but their visit to Kerala for the 1st ODI against the West Indies is an emotional one. Both men play only a single format for India, and this could be the last time both legends feature in a game in the state.

However, neither has ruled out the match as their final international appearance in the state.

That backdrop turned Thiruvananthapuram into something closer to a farewell tour than a routine series opener. Fan clubs for both players spent the days before the match building tributes, banners, and cutouts around the Greenfield Stadium, determined to make the occasion memorable. What followed was not a quiet split of affection either.

While on the global stage, supporters often split evenly between the Hitman and the King, that wasn't the case in Kerala's capital city. Rohit's supporters went several steps further than Kohli's, and social media noticed almost immediately.

MORE: 'India a bowler short': Fans puzzled as Naman Dhir makes ODI debut vs WI

Why this could be Rohit and Kohli's last game in Kerala

Neither man has confirmed retirement outright. But the signs suggest that this is the case. Kohli has already said 2027 will be his last World Cup for India. Rohit has been vague, but he, too, now plays only the 50-over format.

Kerala's cricket calendar does not offer many chances to host India. If the match genuinely is a farewell, both fan bases were determined to mark the occasion properly. Rohit's supporters simply made more noise about it.

Star Sports India set the mood before a ball was bowled. "When the Hitman returns, the welcome has to be larger than life! Rohit Sharma is set to return for the 1st ODI vs West Indies, and Thiruvananthapuram is already buzzing," the post read.

How Kerala celebrated Rohit Sharma's return

Rohit's fan base did not hold back. One account described the mood on the ground. "Cake cutting and Mumbai Cha Raja Rohit Sharma chants. Kerala going crazy for Hitman," the post read. While the cricketing world has seen the same scenes in Mumbai numerous times, to see the same fanfare in Kerala has been genuinely heartwarming.

Rohit's official fan association shared scenes from the ground with a simple caption: "Scenes from Trivandrum." The tweet showed droves of fans cutting cakes with Hitman's images on them as the fans celebrated his return to the stadium.

The same account followed up with a warmer message, simply captioned "Our Family." This time the post showed multiple members of the fan club with an enormous banner of Rohit Sharma. 

The centerpiece, however, was impossible to miss. Journalist Rahul Rawat described its scale.

In the midst of all this madness, Kohli's fans were much harder to spot despite Kohli's excellent record in the state.

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Virat Kohli's fans made their presence felt too

Kerala does have plenty of Kohli fans. His supporters, the AKVKFA, unveiled a striking tribute of their own inside the stadium grounds. The caption on their Instagram post read:

"A Journey of Passion, Pride, and Unforgettable Career. AKVKFA is celebrating the legacy, honouring the moments with a great tribute to our idol king Kohli. A 12x30-foot banner at Trivandrum Greenfield Stadium."

One fan summed up what Kerala's cricket-loving crowd wanted most from the day. "Kerala fans, you're the best. India wins the match, and Virat Kohli also scores runs in that victory; there could be no better gift for you than that," the post read.

Kohli's welcome was genuine and heartfelt. It simply arrived at a lower volume. Rohit FC had decided, well in advance, that Kerala's biggest tribute belonged to their man, and on the ground itself, it was difficult to argue they didn't get their wish.

However, as both men move towards the twilight of their careers, it's hard to say they aren't two of the most popular figures that the sport has given India.

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