Cricket fans were disappointed as the first test between India and the West Indies at the Vishal Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on Thursday 2 October saw thousands of vacant seats.
Despite winning a few days of breaks after winning the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian bowlers were in the entire song, but the lack of mob energy attracted everyone’s attention. Many fans believe that selecting Ahmedabad for the Indo-West Indies Test was a mistake, asking why such a huge stadium was chosen for a low-ranked protest in the longest format of the game.
Empty Stand Overshadu India-West Indies Test at Narendra Modi Stadium
The sea of empty chairs dull the action despite on-field action. The debate on fixed red-ball venue in India has resumed, fans said that cities like Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi have a strong test culture and have been constantly attracted to large crowds.
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These places also provide better tourism appeal and easy connectivity for travel fans. A fan posted, X: “If we had to play a lower-level team, we should ideally be played at a stadium that people want to watch Test cricket. Virat’s suggestion of fixed test venue of Virat should be seen.
Ahmedabad has the largest stadium in the country, and it looks empty to host a lower-level team in such a large field. Ahmedabad is good for T20 marki competitions, not for tests – even against a marquee team. Tests should be played easily in tourism scenes and connectivity. Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Delhi, Dharmasala and Vijag may be your fixed test centers. ,
If we had to play a lower tier team, we should ideally be played at a stadium that people want to watch Test cricket.
The suggestion of the virat of the presence of fixed test places should be observed.
Ahmedabad is the largest stadium in the country, and to host a lower level team on such a one… pic.twitter.com/xv9idizvam
– Karthik Kannan (@Kartik_Kannan) October 2, 2025
The BCCI policy of rotating places across the country was to give every state a proper part of international sports, but many people argue that Test cricket, which depends a lot on the crowd’s participation and environment, should be limited to selected cities that embrace the traditional format of the game.
Virat Kohli’s vision for fixed test venue in the spotlight
Interestingly, former Indian captain Virat Kohli had suggested back by 2019 that India should stay at five dedicated places for testing matches to maintain the conditions and consistency in support. The latest scenes in Ahmedabad have increased weight in Kohli’s demand, as Indian cricket fans ask for a rethinking about how Test matches are set in India.
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Kohli had said, “We should have five testing centers, periods. I agree to state associations and rotation and sports and sports and all this is fine for T20 and one -day cricket, but cricket teams coming to India should know, ‘We are going to play at these five centers, these are the pitches that we are going to expect, and these people will come to see those who will come to see.”
Shubman Gill captained India at home for the first time
In particular, India started a new chapter on Thursday, as Shubman Gill is captaining the test team at home for the first time. However, Gill lost the toss this time too.
The opening test against the West Indies was special for another reason as it was the first home test in 15 years without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin.