Virat Kohli's Ranji Return: Crowd Frenzy At Delhi Stadium, Few Injured

Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy was marred by chaos that took place outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi today.

Jan 30, 2025 - 16:04
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Virat Kohli's Ranji Return: Crowd Frenzy At Delhi Stadium, Few Injured

Virat Kohli’s return to the Ranji Trophy was marred by chaos that took place outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi today. Kohli took the field for the first time in the first-class tournament in 12 years during the match against Railways.

Fans were excited about seeing their favourite star and flocked to the venue in large numbers. But it turned chaotic outside the venue as fans were injured. Outside Gate 16, the crowd was involved in pushing each other, which led to a couple of fans falling near the entry gate and getting injured. A police bike was damaged and several left behind their shoes. At least three people got injured in the chaos. The injured fans were treated by the DDCA security and police near the gate. One of the fans also needed a bandage on the leg. A security guard was also injured while trying to get the situation under control.

It was evident that Delhi's cricket administrators had not anticipated such a large turnout. Initially, only three gates—including Gate 16—were scheduled to open for fans. However, given the overwhelming influx, an additional gate was eventually opened. Fans began queuing outside Gates 16 and 17, the closest to the Delhi Gate Metro Station, as early as 8 am IST, waiting for more than an hour before the gates were unlocked. To accommodate the extra spectators, another stand, the Bishan Singh Bedi Stand, was also opened. Initially, only the Gautam Gambhir Stand was intended to be accessible.

The growing tension among fans became clear as they jostled to get closer to the entrance. Many young fans began to feel uncomfortable as the pushing and pulling intensified while waiting for Gate 16 to open. At one point, a security officer warned fans to step back and suggested using other gates for entry.

When the gate finally opened, security officers made a concerted effort to control the crowd and provide aid to the injured. However, there was very little security check at the gate. Despite the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) reportedly mandating that fans carry a copy of their Aadhar Card, many rushed to photocopy centers near the stadium for their documents. Yet, in the wake of the chaos, the identification was never checked.

After learning that Delhi won the toss and opted to bowl, a few fans wanted to leave, knowing that Kohli wouldn’t bat anytime soon. However, some of them were not permitted to leave the stand. After considerable back-and-forth, the security officials eventually allowed a few fans to leave the stand and retrieve their bags from the area near Gate 16. More security officers were added to the stand next to the GG stand, an hour after the match began.

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