Virat Kohli is set to make his return in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, but the comeback comes with a stunning and sobering twist - the fans may not be allowed inside the stadium at all. Kohli’s match is scheduled at the iconic M Chinnaswamy Stadium, a venue that has long been synonymous with noise, colour, and unfiltered passion. It is also the home fortress of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where Kohli has been worshipped like few cricketers in Indian history. On any normal day, even the idea of Kohli playing here would have been enough to guarantee a full house hours before the toss.
But this time, the roar will be missing. According to reports, the Karnataka government is preparing to issue instructions to the Karnataka State Cricket Association to conduct Delhi’s Vijay Hazare matches behind closed doors. The decision is rooted in a tragedy that Bengaluru cricket fans will never forget.
After the IPL final, celebrations at the Chinnaswamy Stadium turned catastrophic. A stampede during RCB’s trophy event claimed 11 innocent lives, leaving dozens injured and an entire city shaken. Since that night, the stadium has effectively carried an invisible warning label - “unfit for large-scale events.”
With the holiday season around the corner and emotions expected to run high, the government is clearly unwilling to gamble with public safety. Even a figure as massive as Virat Kohli is not enough to override that caution.
The irony is brutal. Kohli’s comeback, something fans across the country were desperate to witness live, will likely unfold in near silence. No chants. No sea of jerseys. No thunderous applause for cover drives pierced through extra cover. Just players, officials, and empty stands.
Earlier, the Karnataka State Cricket Association had shifted Delhi’s matches from Alur to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, hoping to ease logistical pressure triggered by the presence of superstars like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant. The high-profile India duo arrived in Bengaluru on Monday night, adding to the security spotlight.
But contingency plans were already in motion. The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) has reportedly been kept on standby as an alternate venue, should police clearance fail to come through for Chinnaswamy.
In a last-ditch attempt to allow limited fan access, the KSCA proposed opening just two stands—enough for around 2,000 to 3,000 spectators. The proposal, however, was swiftly rejected by the government, citing serious security risks and compliance hurdles.
Following a formal request from the KSCA, the Karnataka government constituted a high-level inspection committee involving police, public works, and fire safety officials. The panel inspected the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday and is expected to submit its report on Tuesday, a report that is widely expected to seal the decision to stage the matches behind closed doors
For fans who were dreaming of seeing Virat Kohli in flesh and blood at Chinnaswamy, the message is harsh but clear: this comeback belongs to television screens, not stadium seats. Kohli will be back. The crowd, for now, will not.
Also Watch: Who Is Auqib Nabi? Delhi Capitals’ ₹8.4 Crore bet on Kashmir’s rising star
