Virat Kohli was set to return to M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as Delhi was to play their Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025 league stage matches in Bengaluru. The VHT 2025 will begin on December 24 onwards, with the final scheduled for January 18.

However, for security considerations, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) had to move all of the main 50-over tournament matches from the venue to the BCCI Centre of Excellence on the eve of Delhi's opening match against Andhra.  

The Karnataka home ministry notified the KSCA of this last-minute change on Tuesday morning, according to ESPNcricinfo.

This development has been communicated to the Andhra and Delhi teams before their training sessions. Later on, Tuesday afternoon, the two teams will now train at the CoE.

This is the second time in two weeks that the venue was switched in Bengaluru. Due to logistical and security concerns, the KSCA had already moved at least two matches involving Kohli and Rishabh Pant from Alur to the M. Chinnaswamy.

In addition to this, KSCA has been directed to ensure that Delhi’s matches in Bengaluru are to be played behind closed doors. This means fans won’t be able to catch a glimpse of their favorite Virat Kohli in person at the CoE. The Bengaluru police are already taking care of security around the Aerospace Park, where the CoE is located.

It is important to note that the CoE previously held the India A series against South Africa, the Duleep Trophy, and warm-up matches for the Women's World Cup. Fans were prohibited from entering the venue for all of these games.

Earlier, the KSCA had shown confidence in hosting matches featuring Kohli and Pant at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. They also wanted fans to witness the matches and wanted two stands open to the general public, with 2000-3000 people in attendance.

But as per an ESPNCricinfo report, this proposal received a negative response from the Karnataka government, and they didn't want chaos around the stadium during the holiday season.

The buzz is real, as Virat Kohli will play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first time in 15 years, with his last appearance having been in 2010.

Rohit Sharma is also expected to play in Mumbai's opening VHT match against Sikkim at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday, December 24.

(ESPNCricinfo report)