India, June 1 -- India fast bowler Mukesh Kumar was shown no mercy on social media after a picture of him wearing Virat Kohli's No. 18 jersey in India A's first unofficial Test match against the England Lions at the St Lawrence Ground, in Canterbury. He was bombarded on the internet with hate messages while the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was called out for "disrespecting" Kohli.

Kohli retired earlier last month, ending his Test career just weeks before India's five-match tour of England. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar later revealed that the 36-year-old had already made up his mind in April.

With Kohli gone, his No. 18 jersey was up for grabs, and Bengal bowler Mukesh, who previously donned the No. 49 jersey, switched his...