The Karnataka State Cricket Association has been forced to shift Vijay Hazare Trophy matches away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru after the state government and police denied permission due to safety and security concerns. The high-profile tournament opener between Delhi and Andhra, which will feature Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, will now be played behind closed doors at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence on the city’s outskirts. This decision follows a tragic stampede that killed eleven people during RCB’s IPL victory celebrations in June, after which a government report declared the venue “highly unsafe” for large gatherings.

Why Chinnaswamy Stadium remains closed

The Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted any matches since June 4, when eleven people died in a stampede outside the venue during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebrations. Following that tragedy, a report compiled by Justice John Michael D’Cunha termed the venue “highly unsafe” for large gatherings and recommended several directives that the KSCA must comply with to make the stadium suitable for spectators again.

The KSCA was informed of the latest decision on Tuesday by Karnataka’s home ministry, just ahead of both teams’ training sessions. On Monday, a committee made up of officials from police, public works and fire safety departments inspected the Chinnaswamy Stadium and submitted a report, after which the directive was issued to move the games away from the venue.

Matches moved to Centre of Excellence

Delhi’s tournament opener against Andhra, expected to feature both Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant, will now be played at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The match will be held behind closed doors without any spectators allowed. The KSCA had earlier moved these Vijay Hazare Trophy matches from Alur to the Chinnaswamy Stadium due to logistical and security challenges, and was hopeful of opening two stands that could seat 2000-3000 spectators.

KSCA’s response and future hopes

In a statement released on Tuesday, the KSCA acknowledged the government’s decision and linked it to the implementation of recommendations from the Justice Cunha Committee. The association revealed that earlier communications from the police department since August 2025 about implementing these recommendations “did not receive the desired level of follow-up from the previous managing committee.”

The KSCA statement explained,

“The newly elected managing committee of KSCA, under the leadership of former international cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, which assumed office on 8 December 2025, has been proactive and responsive, engaging swiftly with all concerned government departments and statutory authorities within a short span of less than two weeks.”

Since Venkatesh Prasad took over as KSCA president earlier this month, there has been intense activity around the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Several meetings have been held with government officials about the possibility of top-flight cricket, including the IPL, being played at the venue again.

The KSCA assured compliance with all safety measures in its statement:

“KSCA remains fully committed to implementing all practicable safety, security, and infrastructure-related measures at the earliest. With this proactive approach and full compliance with the recommended measures, KSCA is confident that the necessary permissions for conducting Vijay Hazare Trophy matches at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium will be granted in the near future.”

Impact on high-profile players

Virat Kohli has been named in Delhi’s squad for the first two matches of the Vijay Hazare Trophy, while Rishabh Pant will lead the team. Both players were expected to draw large crowds at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, which is why the KSCA had wanted to host those matches at the main venue instead of Alur. However, with safety concerns still unresolved, fans will not be able to watch these star players in action during the tournament.