New Delhi, Jan 30: The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) has taken special measures to accommodate the overwhelming number of fans flocking to the Arun Jaitley Stadium for the Delhi vs Railways Ranji Trophy match, eager to witness Virat Kohli’s return to domestic cricket after 12 years.
With the crowd surpassing initial expectations, the DDCA has decided to open additional gates and increase security to ensure smooth entry and safety of spectators.
Massive Fan Turnout for Kohli's Ranji Trophy Return
Initial estimation: The DDCA had anticipated a crowd of 10,000, planning to open only gates 16 and 17, with entry permitted based on Aadhaar verification.
Actual turnout: Over 15,000 fans from Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and the NCR region arrived, with some queuing as early as 3 AM to catch a glimpse of Kohli in action.
Additional gate opened: Due to the overwhelming numbers, gate 18 was opened before the match commenced at 9:30 AM, with Delhi winning the toss and electing to bowl first.
Security Strengthened After Fan Intrusion Incident
Increased security: Typically, 25-30 security personnel are deployed for a Ranji Trophy game in Delhi. With Kohli’s presence, the number was raised to 50, then 100.
Police deployment: After VIP movements at Rajghat, police personnel were stationed near the North and West stands to prevent pitch invasions.
Fan incident: In the 12th over, an enthusiastic fan breached security, running in from the North Stand to touch Kohli’s feet. While he was quickly taken away, Kohli, fielding at second slip, requested the security personnel not to harm him.
Food and Water Arrangements for Spectators
The DDCA is arranging food stalls, though RO water counters are already functional within the stadium.
Officials are also meeting to ensure proper food distribution from day one, considering the unexpected crowd size.
Kohli’s Unmatched Pull in Domestic Cricket
The turnout for the match has been described as one of the largest for a domestic red-ball game in Delhi since the 1980s Duleep Trophy clash, where Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar played for North and West Zones.
With fans chanting Kohli’s name and cheering for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the sheer magnetism of Kohli in Indian cricket has once again been reaffirmed, making this Ranji Trophy encounter an unforgettable spectacle.
