Virat Kohli, Jay Shah
Virat Kohli, Jay Shah. Image Credits: Twitter

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah said that the decision to hold the first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali was based on the COVID-19 situation.

On February 26, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) CEO Deepak Sharma said no spectators would be allowed in the stand for the first Test match, which will also mark the 100th Test for star Indian batter Virat Kohli.

Virat Kohli
Photo Credit: (AP)

However, the BCCI on Tuesday reversed the decision and confirmed that PCA has agreed to allow fans to witness the historic landmark for the former Indian skipper.

I am really looking forward to Virat Kohli’s 100th Test: Jay Shah

The 33-year-old Shah wished Kohli for his remarkable achievement with the Indian team and wants the fans to cherish the moment from the stands.

“The first Test between India and Sri Lanka to be played at the Punjab Cricket Stadium in Mohali will not be held behind closed doors. The decision to allow spectators into the ground is one taken by the State Cricketing Associations and in the present circumstances, is based on various factors. I have spoken with the PCA office bearers and they have confirmed that cricket fans will be able to witness the historic moment of Virat Kohli playing his 100th Test match,” Jay Shah said in a statement on Tuesday (March 1).

Jay Shah
BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. (Photo: BCCI)

“While we started off the West Indies Tour of India behind closed doors, the encouraging dip in COVID-19 cases allowed the hosting associations to permit crowds. Based on the advisories by the State Health Authorities fans were able to witness the games in Kolkata and Dharamsala while UPCA had Lucknow T20I without crowds owing to polling a day before the match.

“I am really looking forward to Virat Kohli’s 100th Test and wish our champion cricketer the very best. This is an occasion for our fans to savour. May he continue to represent the country in many more matches to come,” he further stated. 

Virat Kohli has scored 7962 runs from 99 Tests

Kohli stepped down from India’s Test captaincy role after losing the series to South Africa 2-1 in January. The 33-year-old has amassed 7962 runs from 99 Tests at an average of 50.39 and has 28 half-centuries and 27 hundreds in the red-ball format.

Kohli’s century has been the talk of the town in India’s every bilateral series as the player hasn’t reached the three-figure mark for more than two years.

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Kohli scored his last international hundred against Bangladesh in the Pink-ball Day-Night Test match in Kolkata in November 2019. Since then the star Indian batter has struggled to notch up the 71st international hundred that would level him with former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting on the list of most international hundreds across all formats.

Also Read: IND vs SL: I Hope Virat Kohli Celebrates His 100th Test With A Hundred: Sunil Gavaskar