"300 for Kohli, 200 for Dhoni" - Fans react as Ranchi jersey prices spark debate ahead of IND vs SA 1st ODI

The JSCA International Stadium Complex was buzzing ahead of India’s first ODI against South Africa, but a surprising controversy stole the limelight long before the toss, the pricing of customized team jerseys. Fans were shocked to find that adding Virat Kohli’s name to the back of the official ODI kit costs ₹300, while MS Dhoni’s iconic “7” is priced at just ₹200.

Jersey pricing triggers nostalgia, outrage, and debate as Ranchi gears up for the ODI series opener

The ₹100 gap was enough to ignite a frenzy across Ranchi, Dhoni’s hometown, where fans take immense pride in their legend. Social media erupted overnight, with hashtags like #JusticeForDhoni and #KohliVsDhoni dominating timelines. One viral post read, “₹300 for Kohli makes sense, but only ₹200 for the man who finished the 2011 final? Fix it!” Another fan joked, “Dhoni at ₹200 because he’s priceless, they didn’t know what to charge.”

The controversy began when local vendors and BCCI merchandise counters unveiled limited-edition ODI jerseys priced at a base ₹1,500. Player-name personalization added a premium, ₹300 for Kohli, India’s active superstar coming off 245 runs in three ODIs against Australia, and ₹200 for Dhoni, who retired three years ago but remains Ranchi’s heartbeat.

Merchandise officials defended the pricing as “purely demand-based,” arguing that Kohli’s active status, global appeal, and recent form drive higher premium. Yet, the emotional backlash, especially locally, underscored Dhoni’s undiminished presence. Stories of Dhoni hosting Rohit Sharma, Kohli, and Rishabh Pant for dinner earlier this week only added fuel to speculation that he might appear at the stadium.

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Once the cricket took over, South Africa stand-in captain Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bowl, expecting evening dew to aid the chase. India, looking to bounce back from a 0-2 Test series defeat, handed Yashasvi Jaiswal his maiden ODI cap. Ranchi’s pitch, with an average first-innings score of 265, promised a balanced contest.

Still, away from pitch reports and toss decisions, the jersey saga captured the city’s pulse. As one banner outside the gates read: “Mahi 200, but forever 7.”

Playing XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Washington Sundar, KL Rahul (c & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman