'This is so unfair' - Fans disappointed as Virat Kohli's iconic 100th Test will have no spectators in Mohali

India would be hosting Sri Lanka in a two-match Test series starting March four. The opener will be played at the PCA Stadium in Mohali while the final Test at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is set to be a pink-ball affair that will be played under lights on March 12. The upcoming series is also expected to be a new beginning for the Indian team with Rohit Sharma’s appointment as Test captain.

While Rohit will be leading India for the first time in whites, his predecessor Virat Kohli is all set to make his 100th Test appearance in the Mohali game. However, the occasion will not be a special one for the batting megastar as the contest will be held behind closed doors after the Punjab Cricket Association officials confirmed that the spectators have been refrained from watching the game from the stadium.

Fans slam BCCI as Virat Kohli’s 100th Test is set to be played behind closed doors

Virat Kohli would have originally played his 100th Test in the third game against South Africa at Cape Town in January but unfortunately, he had to miss the second match at Johannesburg due to an upper back spasm, and therefore, he had to wait for the special occasion till the series opener against the Lankans.

After it was confirmed that there will be no fan presence in Mohali for the mega event, the passionate Indian cricket fans criticized the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Here are some of the reactions.

#crowdinmohali
This is So Unfair for @imVkohli as He'll play his 100th Test Match Without Any Spectators. @BCCI Should allow 25% Crowd At least for God Sake. pic.twitter.com/mgsDB3DPEO

— nαmαn ѕhαrmα (@namansharma1819) February 27, 2022

BCCI Sends Orders To PCA (Punjab Cricket Association) To Conduct The First Test Match (VK's 100th Test) Behind Closed Doors.
Rest All Matches To Be Played With Crowd 👍🏼
.
How Unfair 🥺💔 #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/I0GhTTBcXu

— charan chowdary 😎 (@_charanchowdary) February 27, 2022

Punjab government is helpless as they received orders from 'BCCI' to organize Virat Kohli's 100th Test behind closed doors.

Crowd allowed in Kolkata, Dharamshala and Bengaluru but not Mohali. What a dirty politics BCCI is playing here! Shameful.#ShameOnBCCI

— Pranav Agrawal (@Dieheartakkian) February 27, 2022

No crowd allowed for Virat Kohli 100th test
Meanwhile crowd has been allowed for T20s and 2nd Test in Bengaluru

Average of Covid cases in last 7 days

Mohali – 145
Bengaluru – 882

We-You-know-who

— The Batman (@GoatViratKohli) February 26, 2022

The man who has always prioritise test cricket. The one who brought the Indian crowd back to watch test cricket. The man who brings so much passion that it rubs off to the crowd as well, is going to play his 100th test behind the close doors. Whyy? @BCCI @imVkohli #ViratKohli𓃵

— Dinkey (@dinkipruthi25) February 27, 2022

As per reports, there has been a dip in COVID-19 cases so far. While three ODIs against the West Indies in Ahmedabad earlier this month were held behind closed doors, the following T20I series at the Eden Gardens had some fan presence while the fans have been allowed inside stadiums in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka.

At the same time, it has been learned that the second and final Test match in Bengaluru will have a crowd presence. While the Mohali Test match will be played behind closed doors, all eyes will be on Kohli’s 71st international century.