The future of Test cricket has once again come under the spotlight, as the ongoing India vs West Indies match in Ahmedabad failed to attract a crowd on Day 2. The two-match series began on the 2nd October, on the occasion of Dussehra and Gandhi Jayanti, and still the stadium looked empty. A scattered presence of fans in the stadium indicated the reduced craze for Test matches. The retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma has left the cricketing world in utter shock and despair; probably, the fandom is also slowly slipping.

It suggests a statement that Virat Kohli said years back, to dwindle interest back in Test matches, by creating special Test centres in India to ensure a strong crowd and a better experience.

What Virat Kohli said about Test Centres
In 2019, after the Ranchi Test, Virat Kohli recommended limiting Test venues to a select few. "We've been discussing this for a long time now, and in my opinion, we should have five Test centres, period," Kohli had said.

He has said that rotating matches in different state associations works for white ball cricket, but red ball cricket demands consistency. According to Kohli, visiting teams should know in advance where they will play and what conditions to expect. "So that becomes a challenge already, when you're leaving your shores," he said. "You want to keep Test cricket alive and exciting? Then we need five strong Test centres. It can’t be sporadic, spread across so many places where crowds may or may not turn up."

Kohli’s vision was clear: a handful of iconic venues with guaranteed atmosphere, crowds, and conditions, something that could help safeguard the future of Test cricket in India.