Sport without spectators is like sugarless tea. The tea got its sweetness back as Indian cricket welcomed the fans back in the stadium after the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) and BCCI allowed 50 percent of crowds during the second Test between India and England.
Cricket in India was back after a long gap last week when the two teams met for the first in the four-match series after November 2019, sans spectators. The satisfaction with the SOPs followed and the safety and precautions being followed due to the COVID-19 restrictions allowed the concerned authorities to give the go-ahead to allow the fans in the stadiums.
The BCCI posted an emotional video on the eve of the Test match as they were all set to welcome the fans to watch live cricket in the stadium. “Dear #TeamIndia fans we've missed you and we are now all set to welcome back crowds to cricket for the second Test. Can't wait to have you roaring at The Chepauk tomorrow,” BCCI wrote.
Dear #TeamIndia fans we've missed you and we are now all set to welcome back crowds to cricket for the second Test.
Can't wait to have you roaring at The Chepauk tomorrow @Paytm #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/7q4S1hPXrB
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 12, 2021
India won the toss and chose to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk in Chennai. Both the teams made wholesale changes to their line-ups for this Test. While India handed a debut to the left-arm spinning all-rounder Axar Patel, they made a couple of more changes including left-arm googly bowler Kuldeep Yadav and getting Mohammed Siraj in for Jasprit Bumrah as they rested the speedster.
England, on the other hand, announced their 12 on Friday with Moeen Ali, Olly Stone, wicket-keeper Ben Foakes, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes all coming in with Woakes being the unlucky one to miss out in the final XI.