Virat Kohli’s Vijay Hazare 2025-26 match at Chinnaswamy likely to be held without fans: Reports

Indian cricket fans will not be able to watch veteran batter Virat Kohli’s return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium during the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Wednesday. The Karnataka government is likely to ask the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to hold the matches without spectators. This decision has been taken due to security concerns and pending infrastructure issues at the stadium.

If police permission is not given to use the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has been chosen as a backup venue. Earlier, the KSCA had planned to open two stands for the public, which could have allowed 2,000 to 3,000 fans to attend. However, the state government strongly opposed this plan, citing safety risks and unresolved issues at the venue.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, the Karnataka government wants to avoid crowd problems during the holiday season, especially because star players like Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant are part of the matches. Their presence earlier led the KSCA to move the games from Alur to the Chinnaswamy Stadium to reduce travel and logistical problems.

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Government Inspection and Crowd Restrictions

After a formal request from the KSCA, a government-appointed committee inspected the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday. The committee included officials from the police, public works department, and fire safety department. The report is expected on Tuesday. However, sources say the home department, led by G. Parameshwara, is likely to recommend limited or no public entry due to safety concerns.

Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant arrived in Bengaluru late Monday night. They will train with the Delhi team on Tuesday before their Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Andhra. Kohli’s return to domestic cricket has created strong interest among fans.

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Safety Concerns Keep Stadium Closed

This match would have been Kohli’s first appearance at the Chinnaswamy Stadium since the tragic stampede on June 4 during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s victory celebrations. The incident caused 11 deaths and many injuries. Since then, the stadium has not hosted major matches. The BCCI moved five Women’s World Cup matches, including the final, to other venues. The stadium was also left out of the T20 World Cup 2026 schedule.

After former India pacer Venkatesh Prasad became KSCA president, steps were taken to fix safety issues mentioned in the Justice John Michael D’Cunha report, which called the stadium unsafe for large crowds. Although Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has supported bringing cricket back to the venue, officials are not ready to allow spectators yet.

For now, Bengaluru fans may have to watch Kohli’s return from home, as safety remains the top priority.