Virat Kohli’s highly anticipated return to the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is likely to take place under strict restrictions, with matches expected to be held behind closed doors due to safety concerns.

The move follows the tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2025 trophy parade, in which 11 fans lost their lives, raising serious questions about crowd management and stadium safety. In response, the Karnataka government is reportedly set to order that Delhi’s matches-featuring star players such as Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant-be played without spectators.

With the holiday season approaching, authorities fear large crowds could lead to further chaos, especially given Kohli’s massive fan following. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had proposed allowing a limited crowd by opening two stands accommodating around 2,000–3,000 spectators, but the government rejected the plan, citing security risks and non-compliance with safety norms.

The Chinnaswamy Stadium has been under intense scrutiny since the incident and was recently declared “unfit for large-scale events” by the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission, appointed to investigate the tragedy. As a result, the KSCA Maharaja Trophy was shifted to Mysore in August, and no major matches have been hosted at the venue since.

A police and safety inspection team appointed by the state government is expected to formally confirm the behind-closed-doors decision soon. Should the situation remain unresolved, the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) has been identified as a backup venue for the matches.