Cricket

IPL teams join viral 1980s ChatGPT trend: Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Shubman Gill get retro makeovers

September 10, 2026

A widespread online craze involving ChatGPT-generated 1980s portraits has taken over cricket social media, prompting multiple Indian Premier League franchises and players to display retro versions of themselves. Mumbai Indians jumped on the craze early, showcasing Rohit Sharma in an old-school Bollywood-inspired setup and Jasprit Bumrah relaxing in an Irani cafe.

Rajasthan Royals highlighted Yashasvi Jaiswal, skipper Riyan Parag, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi in era-appropriate team kits, while Kolkata Knight Riders set Tim Seifert and Angkrish Raghuvanshi against famous backdrops like Park Street and College Street. Punjab Kings offered vintage depictions of captain Shreyas Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, and head coach Ricky Ponting from an era predating his playing career, and Gujarat Titans spotlighted captain Shubman Gill in diverse period poses alongside his teammates.

Individual players also embraced the phenomenon on their own accounts, with Chahal publishing scenes of himself training in 1985 and posing in classic Mumbai. Ex-India batsman Shikhar Dhawan posted nostalgic images depicting cricket practice and an outing with his wife Sophia in 1980s Mumbai.

The trend also reached international broadcasts, as former England captain and current pundit Nasser Hussain drew widespread online amusement for his live reaction during an ongoing Pakistan-England Test series.

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