India skipper Virat Kohli believes cricket in empty stadiums is a real possibility in a post Covid-19 world and though it is unlikely to have a bearing on the intensity of players, he feels the magic would certainly go missing.
“It’s quite a possible situation, it might happen, I honestly don’t know how everyone is going to take that because we all are used to playing in front of so many passionate fans,” Kohli said in Star Sports show Cricket Connected.
“I know it will be played at a very good intensity but that feeling of the crowd connecting with the players and the tension of the game where everyone goes through it in the stadium, those emotions are very difficult to recreate,” he added.
Kohli said the many moments which are created because of the passion brought in by fans, would be missing.
“Things will still go on, but I doubt that one will feel that magic happening inside because of the atmosphere that was created.
“We will play sports how it is supposed to be played, but those magical moments will be difficult to come by,” he said.
‘Hollow feeling’
Cricket is not going to be the same in the post Covid-19 world and playing in empty stadiums would be a “hollow feeling” but Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey is ready to embrace the “new normal”.
Carey is open to the idea of playing in empty stadiums, which according to him could be a way forward.
“Cricket as we’re used to is going to be different for a bit. There’s the T20 World Cup and the IPL that we’re all looking to play, but it’s hard to picture anything without the fans. It’s going to be a hollow feeling,” said the Delhi Capitals player during an Instagram Live session with his IPL team.
“But I feel the fans will at least have some Live cricket to look forward to on TV, and I can promise it’s still going to be some solid cricket which the fans are going to love,” added the left-hander.