Chinnaswamy likely to host Delhi’s Vijay Hazare Trophy games, Virat Kohli to be in action

Virat Kohli could be back in action at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) home ground, during the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. Both Kohli and Rishabh Pant have been named in Delhi’s probables list for the 50-over domestic white-ball tournament. There is now a possibility that Delhi may end up playing their Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

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After winning the IPL for the first time earlier this year, RCB’s victory parade did not go as planned and turned into a massive stampede in Bengaluru. Following an investigation into the incident, the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission termed the Chinnaswamy Stadium “unfit for large-scale events.”

However, a few days ago, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad was elected as the new Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) president, and the state government has now asked him to facilitate the hosting of matches at the stadium again. As a result, instead of playing matches in Alur, Kohli might end up featuring at RCB’s home ground.

Since the stampede, in which 11 lives were lost in June, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted a single top-flight game. In August, the KSCA Maharaja Trophy was shifted to Mysore, and later, five ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup matches were also moved, including the summit clash that India eventually won to secure their maiden World Cup title.

Delhi to begin their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign on December 24

According to ESPNCricinfo, a source close to the developments said: “We are on track for the IPL to be back.” Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar also spoke on the matter after the state cabinet meeting on December 12. He said: “To avoid any further incidents, we have put in place precautionary measures. We have granted permission accordingly.”

“The Home Minister will hold discussions with the KSCA president and police officials. We have no intention of stopping cricket matches. But crowd-management measures need to be examined. We also intend to implement the recommendations of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha Committee in a phased manner. Venkatesh Prasad too has agreed to this.”

As things stand, Delhi are scheduled to begin their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign in Alur against Andhra Pradesh on December 24.

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