The Karnataka government is planning to order the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to play matches behind closed doors, depriving Bengaluru cricket fans of the chance to see veteran batsman Virat Kohli return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday during the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The decision was made in the midst of persistent compliance problems at the site and increased security concerns.
The BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has been designated as a backup location in the event that police approval for games at the Chinnaswamy Stadium is denied. The KSCA had previously suggested that two stands, which could have held 2,000–3,000 people, might be made available to the public. The state administration, however, fiercely opposed the plan, pointing to safety hazards and unresolved infrastructure issues.
Given the presence of well-known players like Rishabh Pant and Virat Kohli, the Karnataka government is anxious to prevent any mayhem surrounding the stadium throughout the holiday season, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo. In order to reduce logistical difficulties, the KSCA had previously moved the location from Alur to Chinnaswamy Stadium due to their availability for the first two games.
A government-appointed group made up of representatives from the police, public works, and fire safety departments inspected the stadium on Monday in response to a formal request from the KSCA. Although the committee is scheduled to provide its report on Tuesday, sources indicate that the results from the home department, which is led by G. Parameshwara, are probably going to be in line with what is generally anticipated in terms of restricted access.
After arriving in Bengaluru late on Monday night, Kohli and Pant will train with the Delhi team on Tuesday before their opening match against Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
Because of Kohli’s involvement in domestic cricket, the match has attracted a lot of attention.
Interestingly, this would have been Kohli’s first visit to Chinnaswamy Stadium since the June 4 stampede that killed 11 people and injured numerous more during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win celebrations. The BCCI has moved five Women’s World Cup matches, including the final, to different locations since the event, thus making the stadium off-limits for elite cricket.
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