15,000 fans, pitch invader and Virat Kohli chants govern DDCA
What's the story
Over 15,000 cricket fans gathered at Arun Jaitley Stadium to watch Virat Kohli's return to the Ranji Trophy. The former Indian captain is playing against Railways, his first first-class appearance for the first time since 2012. The phenomenal turnout resulted in multiple pitch invasions and chants reverberating from the nearby metro station to the stadium grounds. Here are more details.
Crowd management
Fan frenzy leads to additional gate opening
The Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) had previously allowed free entry for the public through two gates leading to the Gautam Gambhir stand. However, with the crowd being overwhelming, another gate had to be opened after fans breached barricades. Additionally, the Bishan Singh Bedi alcove was also opened when the Gambhir stand filled up within minutes.
Fan reaction
Kohli's warm-up session triggers crowd excitement
According to The Indian Express, the crowd's excitement reached a fever pitch when Kohli started his warm-up exercises, with chants of 'Kohli, Kohli' echoing across the stadium. However, some fans were left disappointed when Delhi's captain Ayush Badoni opted to field first. The atmosphere quickly turned back to exhilaration after Siddhant Sharma dismissed Railways opener Anchit Yadav.
Security measures
Security beefed up after fan invades pitch
The match was briefly halted when a fan invaded the pitch and ran towards Kohli. Meanwhile, following the incident, additional police commandos were deployed at the stadium. Former India opener WV Raman, who was commentating for Jio Cinema, likened Kohli's popularity to that of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. Notably, Raman was astonished to see such a huge crowd for a Ranji Trophy match.
Stampede scare
Stampede scare at Arun Jaitley Stadium amid Kohli's Ranji return
While Kohli's Ranji Trophy return after more than a decade thrilled fans, chaos outside the Arun Jaitley Stadium dampened the occasion. Additionally, an unexpected surge of fans resulted in several injuries and led to the stadium's property being damaged. According to India Today, the unruly crowd outside Gate 16 caused a few fans to fall near the entry gate, injuring at least three people. A police bike was also damaged in the melee and several fans lost their shoes.
Match status
Delhi's bowlers wreak havoc, reduce Railways to five wickets
The Ayush Badoni-led Delhi side won the toss and put Railways to bat. Meanwhile, Delhi's bowlers enjoyed a good first session on Day 1, picking up five wickets. The onslaught began when opener Anchit Yadav was dismissed by Siddhant Sharma. At the end of the first session, Sharma and Money Grewal had two each while Navdeep Saini bagged one. Currently, at the end of 35 overs, Railways are 122/5, (Upendra Yadav 40* off 80, Karn Sharma 24* off 44).