'We all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans' - Virat Kohli reacts to the idea of playing matches behind closed doors

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on all major sporting events. The sporting scenario has come to a halt due to the COVID-19 outbreak as all major events have either been cancelled or postponed indefinitely. The much-awaited IPL 2020 has also been postponed and there’s still a lot of uncertainty over the resumption of sporting events.

Amid such trying times, many members of the cricketing fraternity have suggested the idea of playing matches behind closed doors. Current Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who has recently been spending his quarantine time on social media, shared his opinion over the same.

Opining over the impact of a live audience, Kohli said that a cricket match without a crowd is not the same. However, if the situation demands, playing inside closed doors seems the only viable option.

“It’s quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don’t know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans, I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate,” Kohli said on the Cricket Connected Show on Star Sports.”

‘I am keeping myself positive during the lockdown’: Virat Kohli

The last international match to be played before cricket was halted due to the pandemic was the first ODI between Australia and New Zealand. The match was played at an empty SCG and many fans felt weird while witnessing a cricket match without people in the stands. Kohli also felt the same as he said that taking away the crowd from the game will reduce the magic happening on the field.

“Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created. We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by,” Kohli pointed out.

The prolific batsman also revealed how he is spending his idle time amid the lockdown. According to Kohli, he has been keeping himself positive so that he will be in a good position whenever the sport resumes. The 31-year-old has been spotted doing Instagram live sessions with several other cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, AB de Villiers and Kevin Pietersen.

“I am keeping myself positive and happy and just looking forward in life so that whenever I return to the game, I know I will be in a good position to start from where we left,” he said.