Delhi vs Andhra Vijay Hazare game shifted to Devanahalli BCCI COE

The Delhi vs Andhra Vijay Hazare Trophy match scheduled at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been shifted to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence near Devanahalli due to security and crowd management concerns, with authorities calling the move temporary.

The Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, originally scheduled to be played at Bengaluru’s iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday, has been shifted to the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) Centre of Excellence (CoE) near Devanahalli.

According to officials, the decision was taken purely on security grounds. The Bengaluru Police had expressed serious concerns about crowd control, especially with the year-end holiday season leading to an expected surge in public gatherings across the city.

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Security agencies cited the tragic stampede during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) victory parade on June 4, where 11 people lost their lives in a stampede, as a major reason for heightened caution. Police also flagged inputs suggesting that certain organisations are planning protests targeting Virat Kohli, who is part of the Delhi squad.

Officials said managing such a large crowd at Chinnaswamy Stadium, located in the heart of the city, would be extremely challenging during the holiday period, with limited manpower available for crowd control duties.

As a result, the match has been moved to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, located on the outskirts of Bengaluru, where access and security can be better managed. Virat Kohli is expected to play two matches at the CoE venue.

Chinnaswamy Stadium was originally slated to host six matches as part of the tournament. Authorities confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding shifting the remaining fixtures, and a final decision will be taken soon.

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Chief Minister Siddaramaiah clarified that the decision to deny permission at Chinnaswamy Stadium is only temporary. He said matches could be allowed in the future, provided the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) fully implements the safety and crowd management recommendations made by the Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission.

Officials reiterated that once these recommendations are complied with and security arrangements are deemed adequate, permission for hosting matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium may be reconsidered.