The opening Test match featuring India and Sri Lanka, which begins on March 4, 2022, will indeed be Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match.  Unfortunately, there’ll be no crowds in presence for Kohli’s historical Test match.

Former Indian world cricket star believes that a player would often prefer to play in front of a large crowd. Sunil Gavaskar underlined that any performer will want to appear in front of spectators, notwithstanding the fact that India had just contested international cricket lacking supporters.

“Any game that you play, you want the crowd to be there. India has played without any crowds in recent times. Any performer, be it an actor, be it a cricketer, wants to play in front of the crowd,” Sunil Gavaskar said.

The decision has been taken in the greater interest: Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar also noted that a cricketer’s 100th Test match is a momentous occasion. Gavaskar further stated that not having a crowd for Kohli’s historic match is unfortunate, and finished by noting that this choice was made with increased best interests in mind, as Covid-19 instances are on the upswing in Mohali, which is the venue for Virat Kohli’s 100th Test match.

“The 100th Test is very very special. Disappointing that there is going to be no crowd, but I think the decision has been taken in the greater interest. The cases have increased in and around Mohali, where the match is going to be played,” concluded Sunil Gavaskar.

Virat Kohli has appeared in 99 Test matches for India, scoring 7962 runs at an avg of 50.39. For the Indian cricket team, the prolific batsman has also scored 27 hundred and 28 half-centuries in the longest version of the game. Kohli is also the first Indian hitter to achieve seven double hundreds in Tests.

Gavaskar spoke up on the number 3 spot in T20Is: “It’s a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can’t be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned.

Team India Test Squad Against Sri Lanka: Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KS Bharat, Ravichandran Ashwin (subject to fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Md. Shami, Md. Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar.