Cricket lovers in India has been spending the previous couple of weeks staying glued to their TVs or smartphones. However, many have taken their expression of affection a step additional by getting cricket-related tattoos inked to really feel the spirit of the sport and cheer for his or her fave cricketers. For Delhi-based IT skilled Shashank Sharma, his love for Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli is paramount. “I got Virat’s jersey number 18 tattooed, because it carries the spirit of someone who gave everything to the game — heart, soul, and fire. Virat made that number a symbol of resilience, courage, and never backing down, no matter how tough it got,” he says.
Virat Kohli’s armband tattoos are a preferred decide; (proper) MS Dhoni’s jersey additionally makes for a preferred alternative for tattoo lovers(Images: Instagram) 
MS Dhoni tattoo; (proper) Virat Kohli’s jersey quantity(Images: Instagram)
Vikas Malani, tattoo artist and co-founder of BodyCanvas Tattoos, Mumbai and London, says the love for cricket, IPL and self-expression by tattoos are successful combos. Whereas minimal tattoos begin at ₹4000- ₹5000, they go as much as a lakh or extra, relying on the character and dimension. “Clients are showcasing their passion for cricket through tattoo art, making it a unique way to celebrate their favourite teams and players. Among all cricket-related tattoos people have asked for lately, Virat’s armband is the most famous. The cost for that usually ranges between ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh, depending on the level of the artist. They take about 8 to 12 hours to complete,” says Vikas.
Hardik Pandya’s lion tattoo is a well-liked; (proper) Virat Kohli’s armband tattoo (Images: Instagram)
Mumbai-based businessman Varun Agarwal, who’s a “die-hard fan of Kohli” and loves IPL, acquired the armband inked lately. In actual fact, Delhi-based graphic designer Varun Sharma, too. acquired the Virat-like armband inked on his forearm. He says, “He’s my inspiration. Virat’s tattoo represents the energy he carries. I love that drive and intensity.”
Sachin Gupta, a businessman primarily based in Chandigarh, is a fan of MS Dhoni. Therefore, he opted for a tattoo of Chennai Tremendous Kings’ Thala. “Dhoni is more than a cricketer to me. He is a symbol of calm in chaos, a reminder that true strength lies in silence and composure. The tattoo isn’t just ink on skin, it’s a symbol of my admiration for MSD and a tribute to someone who taught me the value of staying grounded,” he says.
Sahil Bali, tattoo artist at Satan’z Tattooz, Delhi and Gurugram, says the demand for cricket-related tattoos has gone up within the current weeks, given the IPL craze. “Since people are soaked in the IPL spirit currently, they are getting their favourite cricketer jersey numbers, their portraits inked. The most popular are Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and Sachin Tendulkar. In fact, many clients have opted to replicate the tattoos that their favourite cricketers have,” he says, including that many individuals are additionally choosing Hardik’s lion tattoo.
“The love for cricket runs so deep around this time that some fans get detailed portraits of their favourite cricketers, while others go a step further and get the exact same tattoos their idols have. Ever since Virat Kohli’s tattoos gained popularity, he’s been the top choice for tattoo inspirations. Hardik Pandya’s tattoos, too, are quite popular,” says Prashant Yaduvanshi, Tattoo artist and founding father of Shaman Ink, Delhi.