On Saturday morning, when Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli walked out for the toss for the second test between India and England, he was greeted by the applause of cricket fans in the stadium almost after a year.
Cricket fans returned to the stadium to witness the live action as the Board of control for Cricket (BCCI) along with the Tamil Nadu cricket association decided to allow a 50 percent crowd inside the stadium.
This is the first time since January last year when spectators are allowed back inside the stadium to watch the match. The last time when the crowd was allowed in Stadium in India was during the first T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala, which was eventually abandoned due to bad weather.
“It's good to have you back #TeamIndia fans. Chepauk has come alive courtesy you,” tweeted BCCI.
Before the start of the second match. there were reports about long queues outside the Cheapauk stadium in Chennai to get the tickets.
"The TNCA had announced that tickets booked online for the second Test could be redeemed from February 11. However, they seem to have misunderstood it and came to the stadium resulting in crowds and confusion," the TNCA official told PTI
On the match day, fans were seen eagerly waiting for the match to resume and cheer for team India.
As with most sports last year, in the wake of the novel Coronavirus Pandemic, spectators were barred to enter the stands to control the virus. Cricket fans were forced to watch on TV since the ban.