Virat Kohli's 100th Test: Having crowds not in our hands, India focussed on winning - Jasprit Bumrah
India Today
India vs Sri Lanka: The Punjab Cricket Association has barred spectators for Virat Kohli's 100th Test which will be played in Mohali from March 4, citing Covid-19 restrictions.
India vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah said on Tuesday that the team is not thinking about the lack of crowd for their first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali and their focus is on winning the series opener. The PCA Stadium will be without spectators for the 1st Test, which will also be Virat Kohli's 100th match in the longest format of the game.
Jasprit Bumrah, addressing the press 2 days ahead of the 1st Test, said the crowd does bring energy to the contest but the players can only focus on the controllable.
Bumrah's comments come even as a section of fans are expressing their disappointment over playing Kohli's 100th Test in front of empty stands. While the T20I series against Sri Lanka was played with spectators in both Lucknow and Kolkata, the 2nd Test in Bengaluru will also have 50 percent capacity at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
However, the Punjab Cricket Association confirmed last week that the 1st Test in Mohali will be played without spectators, citing Covid-19. PCA treasurer RP Singla told the PTI that the decision has been taken in accordance with a directive from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
"Right now we're focussed on what we can control. Of course, if there's a crowd it's great since they bring energy. But that's not in our hands. We can only focus on trying to win the match," vice-captain Bumrah said.
Meanwhile, Bumrah heaped praise on his former captain, saying 100 Test matches is a testament to Kohli's hard work over the years.
Kohli will become the 11th Indian to play 100 Tests after Sachin Tendulkar (200), Rahul Dravid (163), VVS Laxman (134), Anil Kumble (132), Kapil Dev (131), Sunil Gavaskar (125), Dilip Vengsarkar (116), Sourav Ganguly (113), Ishant Sharma (105), Harbhajan Singh (103), and Virender Sehwag (103).
