Delhi vs Andhra Vijay Hazare Trophy Match at Chinnaswamy Cancelled Over Safety Concerns

The Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been cancelled after a safety review, denying Bengaluru fans a chance to watch Virat Kohli play domestic cricket. Officials said the venue failed to meet current safety conditions, even for a game without spectators.

The Karnataka State Cricket Association had requested special approval to stage the one-day fixture behind closed doors. However, the scrutiny committee declined, and the government did not overrule that view. The call is being viewed as a setback for the KSCA, which has been trying to restore regular matches at the iconic ground.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Delhi vs Andhra match safety review and committee findings

A joint inspection at the stadium was held before the scheduled Vijay Hazare Trophy Delhi vs Andhra match. After checking arrangements, the committee cited infrastructure and safety gaps. The panel included the police commissioner, GBA commissioner, officials from the fire department, Public Works Department, and health authorities, with GBA commissioner Maheshwar Rao chairing the meeting.

According to officials, the committee concluded that the stadium’s present state was not suitable for hosting the match. This applied even if no fans were allowed inside. Based on that recommendation, authorities refused permission, despite KSCA’s request for a closed-door game to accommodate the tournament schedule and Virat Kohli’s availability.

Vijay Hazare Trophy Delhi vs Andhra match linked to June stampede and venue ban

The strict stance follows a tragic incident in June, when celebrations after Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title led to a stampede near Chinnaswamy Stadium, killing 11 people. Following that disaster, the government placed limits on major gatherings at the venue, and competitive matches have not been cleared there since.

Those restrictions remain in force, and the latest review did not find grounds to relax them for the Vijay Hazare Trophy Delhi vs Andhra match. Officials argued that public safety and compliance must take priority, particularly at a venue still under scrutiny after a mass-casualty event linked to crowd control failures.

The chance to see Virat Kohli turn out for Delhi had created strong buzz among local supporters. Virat Kohli had already reached Bengaluru and started practice sessions, raising hopes that the stadium might host at least one high-profile domestic match. The decision has instead stalled any immediate return of top-level cricket at the ground.

KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad is understood to have lobbied the government and the home department to clear the fixture. However, officials stuck to the committee’s view and rejected those efforts, citing unresolved safety concerns. With Chinnaswamy Stadium unavailable, the match is now expected to shift to the National Cricket Academy ground in Devanahalli, while the KSCA reassesses its options for future games.