Initially due to be played behind closed doors, the first India-Sri Lanka Test scheduled to start on March 4 now has an allowance for a 50 per cent capacity crowd, the BCCI confirmed on March 1. The board paved the way for Mohali to be at least half-full for modern-day great Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match at the highest level.
Fans were aggrieved with fear that Kohli’s milestone fixture would turn into a damp squib without fans cheering for their idol from the stands and unleashed their anger and frustration over social media platforms in this regard.
It would’ve then come as a huge moment of relief for them when the BCCI secretary Jay Shah issued an official statement, saying the Mohali Test can be attended by 50% of the crowd. The doors for the stadium were set to stay closed for the game due to Covid restrictions but that has changed now, with BCCI observing a decline in positive numbers in Punjab.
“The first Test between India and Sri Lanka to be played at the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali will not be held behind closed doors,”
Shah said in his statement.
“The decision to allow spectators into the ground is one taken by the State Cricketing Associations and in the present circumstances, is based on various factors. I have spoken with the PCA office bearers and they have confirmed that cricket fans will be able to witness the historic moment of Virat Kohli playing his 100th Test match.”
The board secretary confirmed that the decision has been taken after necessary advice of Punjab state’s health authorities, as was taken by the state authorities in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal before deciding on the crowd allowances for the matches in February against West Indies and the T20Is versus Sri Lanka.
The ODI series against West Indies was played in an empty stadium in Ahmedabad, which changed at a gradual rate for the T20Is that followed in Kolkata and in Dharamshala against Sri Lanka. Shah informed that the reason why the Lucknow T20I was held behind closed doors was not Covid related.
“While we started off the West Indies Tour of India behind closed doors, the encouraging dip in COVID-19 cases allowed the hosting associations to permit crowds. Based on the advisories by the State Health Authorities fans were able to witness the games in Kolkata and Dharamsala while UPCA had Lucknow T20I without crowds owing to polling a day before the match.”
Shah added.
At a time when talks of a rift between BCCI and Kohli are rife, Shah also made it a point to wish the cricketer the very best for his milestone game. It will only be the 12th occasion where an Indian men’s player takes part in his 100th Test game.
“I am really looking forward to Virat Kohli’s 100th Test and wish our champion cricketer the very best. This is an occasion for our fans to savour. May he continue to represent the country in many more matches to come,”
said Shah.
Through his milestone game, Kohli will also aim to break a longstanding drought of a century. It has been over two years since Kohli last raised his bat for a hundred in international cricket. The previous instance of which came a few months before the pandemic started to firm its grip over the cricketing world in the first innings of the D/N Test against Bangladesh in November 2020. In this phase, he has averaged 28.14 with 760 runs over 27 innings.
