On the eve of the third Test match against England, India captain Virat바카라 웹사이트Kohli highlighted the importance of cricket fans. The penultimate바카라 웹사이트match, a day-night affair, of the four-Test series at the refurbished바카라 웹사이트Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad starts Wednesday.
Preview바카라 웹사이트|바카라 웹사이트News바카라 웹사이트|바카라 웹사이트Gallery바카라 웹사이트|바카라 웹사이트Live Streaming
"Crowd plays a massive role. The crowd really gets behind us and the바카라 웹사이트difference of which we saw in the second Test. You know, the opposition does feel the pressure when you go to play in Australia,바카라 웹사이트England, South Africa and New Zealand or anywhere," Kohli said during a virtual press conference on Tuesday.
India lost the series opener in Chennai in front of empty stands, but바카라 웹사이트the hosts hit back in style, winning the second Test at the same바카라 웹사이트venue as cricket fans, albeit in limited numbers, make a return to the stadium for the first time since the coronavirus lockdown last year.
"Our experience is that as a batsman when you walked into the field바카라 웹사이트and thirty thousand fans are going in your way, clapping as bowlers바카라 웹사이트running into bowl... it does get in your head," Kohli added as he바카라 웹사이트shared the first-hand experience. "So, you would love for that바카라 웹사이트atmosphere to be present and make life more difficult for the바카라 웹사이트opposition and really get behind the team".
The run-up to the pink ball Test, with a virgin Motera strip, has been dominated by the playing conditions and the nature of the pitch. But Kohli said that, possibly, the biggest factor is the presence of fans.
"That's what playing at home is all about. It's not only about the바카라 웹사이트conditions on the field but fifty thousand people and their energy바카라 웹사이트behind your team. It does push you in the right direction. And it바카라 웹사이트does put a lot of pressure on the opposition," the 32-year-old added.
Earlier, BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly revealed that all tickets for the match have been 'sold out’. The Motera stadium, the biggest cricket stadium in the world, has a capacity of 110,000 people and the match will witness 50 per cent occupancy due to concerns over COVID-19.
"Ahmedabad is totally sold out, the day-night Test match, because it's the first game there after a long period of time," BCCI president Sourav Ganguly said.
"So, happy to see normalcy back. It'll be fantastic, it's sold out.
" … We want to see every seat and stand full. And that's what it is, the tickets have gone, as well as for the T20s (that follow the Tests)."
Impressed with the facility, England pacer Stuart Broad shared a video of the venue.
Interestingly, a year ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted then United States President Donald Trump at the venue with more than 100,000 people turning up for the event.
