Crowd chaos mars Virat Kohli’s Ranji Trophy return at Arun Jaitley Stadium
Ranji Trophy: Virat Kohli’s much-anticipated return to the Ranji Trophy after 12 years turned chaotic outside Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi as an overwhelming number of fans gathered to witness the cricketing icon in action. The Delhi vs. Railways match, featuring Virat Kohli, drew an unexpectedly large crowd, leading to crowd mismanagement, injuries, and damaged property.
Excitement turned into chaos outside Gate 16 as thousands of fans pushed and jostled to gain entry. The situation spiraled out of control, causing several people to fall and sustain injuries. At least three persons required immediate medical attention, with one fan receiving a leg bandage. A security guard also suffered injuries while attempting to control the crowd. A police motorcycle was also damaged, and many spectators lost their belongings, including shoes, in the mayhem.
Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) security personnel and the police rushed to assist the injured, offering on-the-spot medical help. Despite their efforts, the security arrangements fell short in handling the unexpected turnout.
The massive turnout seemed to have caught organisers off guard. Initially, only three gates, including Gate 16, were designated for fan entry. However, as congestion worsened, the authorities eventually opened an additional gate. Fans, many of whom had queued up since 8 am, became restless after waiting over an hour for the gates to unlock.
Recognising the need for more space, officials decided to open the Bishan Singh Bedi Stand, which was previously closed. Originally, only the Gautam Gambhir Stand was meant to be accessible to spectators. Despite these adjustments, the situation at the entrance remained volatile, with fans pushing against one another to get inside.
Once inside, fans faced further disorganisation. Security personnel had earlier advised attendees to bring a copy of their Aadhaar Card, yet identification was never checked due to the rush. Many fans scrambled to photocopy centres near the stadium for documentation, only to find it unnecessary amid the confusion.
Adding to the chaos, spectators who had left their bags near Gate 16, as instructed by security, struggled to retrieve them later. Some fans who moved to stands near the Gautam Gambhir Stand were denied access to their belongings, leading to heated exchanges with security officials.
As Delhi won the toss and opted to bowl, several fans, realising Kohli wouldn’t bat soon, wanted to leave. However, some were restricted from exiting, further fueling tensions. After arguments with security officials, a few were eventually permitted to leave and retrieve their belongings. To manage the growing unrest, additional security officers were deployed near the stands an hour into the match.
- With inputs from agencies
