New Delhi: General public has been barred from Indian ODI skipper Shubman Gill’s first Vijay Hazare Trophy match on Saturday. Just like it happened in Virat Kohli’s two VHT matches which took place behind closed doors without any spectators in the stands, Gill’s game will also go ahead in the same manner.
After being left out of India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, Gill would be making his first appearance on the field as Punjab play against Sikkim at the Jaipuria College ground, Jaipur on January 3. As per the BCCI diktat, the Indian captain and pace spearhead Arshdeep Singh will be playing Punjab’s next couple of Vijay Hazare Trophy games against Sikkim and Goa on January 3 and 6 respectively.
What’s the reason?
While the match against Goa will be held at the KL Saini stadium, the game against Sikkim would take place at the local college ground behind closed doors. It is being learnt that due to security concerns and lack of seating arrangement for spectators, it has been decided to hold the matches behind closed doors.
A BCCI source confirmed to news agency PTI that: ‘The students and staff are allowed inside the premises but there will be enough security arrangements including private bouncers being deployed. In any case, no outsiders will be allowed inside the college premises.’
‘The scheduling was done much earlier. Only because of Rohit Sharma and anticipating the response, Mumbai’s match had to be shifted to Sawai Man Singh Stadium from Anantam,’ the source said.
Just like the matches featuring Kohli and Rohit Sharma were neither televised nor live-streamed, Gill’s match will also not be aired live. Both Gill and Arshdeep are supposed to arrive from their respective destinations by late Friday night.
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