New Delhi Dec 23: Fans hoping to catch Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to domestic cricket at Bengaluru’s M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday will be disappointed, as the Karnataka government plans to hold Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy opener against Andhra Pradesh behind closed doors due to security concerns.
The match was shifted from Alur to the main stadium after Kohli and Rishabh Pant confirmed availability for Delhi’s first two games in the 2025-26 tournament. However, despite the venue upgrade, spectators are likely to be barred, with the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence eyed as a backup if police clearance for Chinnaswamy isn’t granted.
The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had proposed opening two stands for 2,000-3,000 fans, but the state rejected it over security, compliance issues, and fears of crowd chaos during the holiday season—especially with high-profile players involved. A government committee from police, public works, and fire safety departments inspected the venue on Monday and is submitting its report Tuesday, expected to affirm the no-fans decision.
The move follows the tragic June stampede at Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations, which killed 11 and injured several. Delhi’s squad features Kohli, captain Pant, Ishant Sharma, and Navdeep Saini; both Kohli and Pant arrived in Bengaluru late Monday for Tuesday training.
