Superstar cricketer Virat Kohli will play his 100th Test behind closed doors with no spectators because of a coronavirus outbreak in the northern Indian city of Mohali, an Indian cricket official has told AFP.

The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) hosts the first of the two Tests against Sri Lanka starting on Friday and the spotlight will be on former captain Kohli's landmark game.

“It is unfortunate that we can't have crowds in Kohli's 100th game due to Covid cases in the city,” PCA secretary Puneet Bali told AFP. “But it is a historic occasion and we would felicitate the great batsman and also put billboards all across the city to celebrate the feat," he added.

Local media has reported 19 new Covid cases over the past 24 hours in Mohali.