Once Coronavirus pandemic subsides, cricket could see a number of changes. The talks around the ban on saliva, sweat to shine the ball have already begun and India skipper Virat Kohli believes cricket in empty stadiums is a real possibility in the post COVID-19 world.

Even though it is unlikely to have a bearing on the intensity of players, Kohli feels the magic would certainly go missing without fans cheering from the stands.

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Cricket boards across the globe are looking at the option of resuming the game behind closed doors. Reports also suggest that the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia would be played by keeping the fans away from stadiums.

"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 a show on Star Sports.

"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.

Speaking about the impact of fans, the Indian captain said they are the ones who make the atmosphere electrifying.  

"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," Kohli asserted.

Earlier, cricketers such as Ben Stokes, Jason Roy, Jos Buttler and Pat Cummins have supported the idea of cricket behind closed doors whenever the on-field play is resumable.

England opener Roy, in fact, experienced playing in an empty stadium recently when the last few games of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2020 were played without crowd presence due to the viral outbreak.

Australia speedster Cummins also played the first ODI against New Zealand in the empty Sydney Cricket Ground before the three-match series was eventually called off in March.

(With PTI inputs)