India have kick-started their home season by playing the two-match Test series against West Indies. The first Test is underway at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedebad. While most experts and critics expected a full house during the festive season of Dussehra, Shubman Gill & Co. were treated to low cheers as there were no huge crowds in attendance. The possible absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma might have played a part.
For the unversed, the two stalwarts retired from Tests earlier this year. Also, this is the first time the Indian Cricket Team is playing a red-ball game at home without the duo in about 15 years. The last Test match at home without Rohit & Kohli came way back in Nagpur vs New Zealand in 2010. The stands in Ahmedebad for over two days appeared mostly empty. Each empty stands screamed for star power vacuum.
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This less crowd turnout is pretty strange as India is coming off a hard-earned 2-2 Test series draw against England, and also won the Asia Cup in T20 format. Notably, Kohli expressed a long time back that Test cricket in India should be played in classic hubs that can pull weekday crowds.
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India's phenomenal show fails to attract crowds
Speaking about the first India vs West Indies Test, the hosts bundled the visitors out for 162, with pacer Mohammed Siraj playing a pivotal role by picking four wickets. With the bat in hand, KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel, and Ravindra Jadeja's centuries ensured India are in total dominance to wrap this Test within three days.
However, despite such a terrific display, Ahmedabad crowds failed to turn up in large numbers to cheer for the young-looking Indian Team.
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