Mumbai: Amidst all the debate around former India skipper Virat Kohli's 100th Test match that is set to begin on March 4 in Mohali, the fans continue to express their anguish over BCCI’s move to play the match behind closed doors. Several hashtags on the topic including #AllowCrowdinMohali were among the top-trending hashtags on Twitter on Monday.
Fans have been expressively upset over BCCI’s decision to not allow crowd at the milestone match for one of India’s greatest batters of all time.
Several fans blamed the BCCI for playing dirty politics with the former skipper after his fallout with board President Sourav Ganguly which saw him getting down from Test and T20I captaincy and being stripped off ODI captaincy of the international men’s team.
Several users on Twitter also pointed out how other boards, ICC, and broadcasters use Kohli’s aura and charisma to endorse the game while he continues being humiliated by his own home board.
Earlier, the Punjab Cricket Association clarified that it was as per the directive of BCCI that the match was being played without crowds at the ground.
Crowds have been allowed at Bengaluru which is set to host the second test match of the series. Crowds were also allowed at the recently concluded T20I series against Sri Lanka at Lucknow and Dharmashala.
Kohli’s 100th Test match was earlier scheduled to be played at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the home ground of Kohli’s IPL team RCB, but the schedule was later altered and the first test of the series was shifted to Mohali.
Senior Sport Journalist Vikrant Gupta also took to his Twitter handle and added some percentage of the crowd should be allowed at the ground for one of the biggest cricketing days of Virat Kohli. He added that it was a pity that no crowd was allowed.
"It’s a pity Virat Kohli’s 100th Test won’t have any crowd to cheer one of his biggest cricketing days. Maybe some percentage should have been let in during the Tests" he wrote in his tweet.
However, PCA is putting up billboards across the stadium to celebrate the momentous occasion in Kohli’s glittering cricket career.
“We will be putting up big billboards and our PCA Apex Council has also decided to felicitate Virat. We will either do it at the start of the game or at the end depending on BCCI directive.”
#AllowedCrowdinMohali was one of the top three trending topics on Twitter India on Monday afternoon while #AllowCrownFor100thTestOfKohli #ViratKohli were also among the top-trending hashtags.
Here are some of the tweets of the users with hashtags demanding crowd at Mohali stadium for Kohli’s 100th Test match.
It’s a pity Virat Kohli’s 100th Test won’t have any crowd to cheer one of his biggest cricketing days. Maybe some percentage should have been let in during the Tests @BCCI
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 26, 2022
The brand ambassador of Test Cricket will be playing his 100th Test match on 4th March. It's pathetic that BCCI hasn't allowed crowd @imVkohli
— iᴍ_Aʀʏᴀɴ18 (@crickohli18) February 28, 2022
Unbelievable! Ridiculous!🤦♂️#AllowCrowdinMohalihttps://t.co/Y4Hv7S4Loepic.twitter.com/PQeuxet5x6
He deserves the best for taking Indian test team to greater heights. Make his 100th test a memorable one @BCCI #AllowCrowdinMohali pic.twitter.com/4xbNt9dApt
— Sai Krishna💫 (@SaiKingkohli) February 28, 2022
Not only broadcasters but even boards like ICC, CA, CSA, ECB use Virat Kohli’s name to endorse this game. This disrespect by BCCI on his 100th test is uncalled for. #AllowCrowdinMohali pic.twitter.com/dosFGjU90v
— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) February 28, 2022
Utterly shameful that crowds are allowed in the stadium on either side of Virat Kohli's 100th test match but not allowed only during that match
— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) February 28, 2022
Also it's shady how BCCI changed the original test from Bengaluru, which is now hosting the next match with crowds#AllowCrowdinMohali
Crowds are allowed in lucknow, Dharamsala. Bengaluru but not in mohali...
— A (@_shortarmjab_) February 28, 2022
Greatest player of this generation deserves way better. Allow crowds for the first test abeg @bcci #AllowCrowdinMohali
Crowd chanting KOHLI KOHLI 🥁
— Yashvi (@BreatheKohli) February 28, 2022
Fans love him and he should get this love in his 100th test match aswell@bcci #AllowCrowdinMohali pic.twitter.com/LKUR42m0ZA
Australians knows his value. It's so terrible that our own board is not giving respect which he deserves. #AllowCrowdinMohalipic.twitter.com/BImQC5hlhA
— Gaurav Chavan (@_fearless18_) February 28, 2022
Carrying this Indian cricket team on his shoulder when he was just 23 years old.
— Sahil (@VkRightarmquick) February 28, 2022
Greatest cricketer of this generation deserves a better treatment from bcci#KingKohli #ViratKohli #AllowCrowdinMohali#AllowCrowdFor100thTestOfKohli pic.twitter.com/Y4efg4VU43
He deserves this kind of applause and cheer for one of the most special match of his Test career .This needs to special and memorable @bcci#AllowCrowdinMohalipic.twitter.com/ugOWiYdvYl
— ♕¹⁸ (@virat_holics) February 28, 2022
"Thank you Virat he loves Test cricket he is the biggest superstar on this planet"
— Gaurav (@Kohli4ever) February 28, 2022
-Shane Warne
Learn how to respect your Greatest player @BCCI#AllowcrowdinMohalipic.twitter.com/kZQmFaGyRd
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Hyderabad, Dec 22: Top Telugu actor Allu Arjun did not leave the theatre during the screening of 'Pushpa-2' on December 4 despite being told to do so in view of a stampede in which a woman died, police officials claimed on on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference on the annual round-up of 2024, city police commissioner C V Anand showed a video, made by police, on the situation that prevailed when the stampede occurred.
The video was made by collating footage, including from news channels and cell phone clips. It suggests the actor remained in the theatre till the midnight.
Anand did not make any comment on the video, but said the media can draw its own conclusions.
A police official talked about the sequence of events on the fateful night of December 4.
He said that he and other police officials informed a manager of Allu Arjun about the death of the woman and told him that the situation was out of control. He indicated that they were not allowed to meet the actor.
Allu Arjun's staff members told them that they would convey the matter to the actor but did not do so, he said.
The official said he later managed to reach the actor, told him about the woman's death and asked him to leave the theatre so that the fans don't harm each other while trying to catch a glimpse of him.
The official also told the actor that security arrangements would be made for his exit.
However, the actor said he would go only after watching the film, the police official said.
Later, accompanied by a senior officer, the official went inside and brought the actor out, he said.
Amid allegations that bouncers hired by Allu Arjun pushed crowds as well as policemen when the stampede occurred at the cinema hall, the police commissioner warned that stringent action as per law would be taken if THE bouncers indeed misbehaved with the police on duty.
The VIPs would be made responsible for the behaviour of the bouncers hired by them, he said.
Asked if the police would appeal against the interim bail granted to Allu Arjun, the commissioner refused to give a direct response, just saying it is part of the investigation.
What course of action is taken would be known in the days to come, he said.
He also declined to comment when asked if the family of the deceased told him about Allu Arjun's team or film production team allegedly threatening them not to speak on the issue.
Meanwhile, state Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy found fault with Allu Arjun responding on Saturday to the debate in the Legislative Assembly.
The minister, who observed that the actor should have respect for the government and the chief minister, demanded an apology from Allu Arjun to the government and the CM.
"This government is never vindictive. As Cinematography Minister, we allowed benefit shows and hiking ticket prices to promote the film industry," he said.
However, Union Minister of State for Home Bandi Sanjay Kumar found fault with CM Revanth Reddy for his comments on Allu Arjun in the Assembly on Saturday.
The comments of the CM sounded like character assassination of Allu Arjun and hurting the Telugu film industry, he alleged in a statement.
Later in the day, Sanjay Kumar visited a boy who is undergoing treatment in a hospital after being injured in the stampede.
"Consoled his father over the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Revathi. I pray to god that Sritej recovers at the earliest. Assured support to the family in this difficult time," Kumar said on X.
Earlier in the day, state DGP Jitender told reporters in Karimnagar district that film personalities and all others should understand that safety and security of citizens is utmost important, and also conduct themselves accordingly.