Sparse Crowd Marks Ahmedabad Test Despite Holiday Weekend

The much-anticipated Test match between India and the West Indies at Ahmedabad has faced a surprising setback — a near-empty stadium. Even though the opening day coincided with Gandhi Jayanti and Dussehra, two major national holidays that were expected to boost attendance, the stands remained mostly vacant across the first two days.

This disappointing turnout has reignited debates around the future of Test cricket in India, particularly in the context of how and where matches are hosted.

The Ahmedabad stadium, known for its capacity to hold over 100,000 spectators, presented a stark contrast with vast empty seats and a subdued atmosphere. For a cricket-loving nation like India, the lack of enthusiasm for a home Test series was unexpected and concerning for the sport’s traditional format.

Fans Recall Kohli’s Vision for ‘Test Centres’

The low attendance quickly became a talking point on social media, with many fans revisiting Virat Kohli’s famous remarks from 2019. Following a Test match in Ranchi that also suffered from poor turnout, Kohli had proposed that India should limit Test matches to five designated venues.

According to him, concentrating matches in a handful of cities — such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, and Delhi — would help build a stronger fan culture, ensure better planning, and guarantee packed stadiums.

He argued that fans in these traditional cricketing hubs were more likely to show up, creating a vibrant Test atmosphere that would benefit players and spectators alike. Kohli’s statement, which was initially seen as controversial by some, is now being cited as prophetic, as the current scenario mirrors the issues he highlighted years ago.

A Wake-Up Call for Indian Cricket Authorities

The poor turnout at one of the world’s largest cricket stadiums raises crucial questions about how Test cricket is marketed and scheduled in India. Despite the presence of big names, a major national holiday, and the excitement of a home series, the lack of spectators suggests deeper issues — ranging from scheduling choices and ticket pricing to fan engagement strategies. It also reflects the evolving preferences of modern cricket audiences, who are increasingly drawn to the fast-paced formats of T20 and ODI cricket.

Experts believe that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) might need to reconsider its hosting policies, possibly revisiting Kohli’s idea of dedicated Test centres. If steps are not taken to revive fan interest, the traditional form of the game — once celebrated as cricket’s ultimate test — might continue to struggle for relevance in India’s cricket landscape.