Ticket Demand Increases As Fans In Australia Try To Catch Glimpse Of Virat Kohli In Adelaide Test

As India and Australia gear up for the upcoming blockbuster series, the fans have started their preparation to ensure that they watch the two cricket giants in action from the stands. Ahead of the series, the demands for the ticket has increased in Australia.

Virat Kohli-led India are scheduled to play three ODIs, three T20Is and four Tests Down Under. While all the limited-overs games will be played in empty stadiums, the fans will be allowed to watch the action from the stands when India and Australia lock horns in the Test series.

One of the reasons behind the increase in ticket demand is Virat Kohli’s availability for just one Test of the series. The India skipper will play the series-opener in Adelaide before returning to the country to be at the birth of his first child. Anushka Sharma is due to give birth in early January.

And to make sure that they catch a glimpse of King Kohli on the field, the fans are doing all they can to arrange for the tickets of the Adelaide Test which will be a day-night affair. According to Melbourne-based cafe owner Angadh Singh Oberoi, who runs the Swami Army supporter group of Indian cricket fans and will be dishing out the tickets via a ballot, the demand for tickets in the group has been particularly high for the series-opener.

“There’s a lot of interest in the day-night Test because we’re getting inundated with requests for that. So there is certainly demand but it’s whether all the logistics and ticketing can come together in time for it,” Oberoi was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald.

“We’ve been in discussions with Cricket Australia about numbers. They seemed a little bit optimistic that it might extend beyond the 25,000 but who knows?” he added.

Cricket Australia has confirmed that 50 per cent (27,000 spectators) of the total capacity of the stadium will be permitted on all five days of Adelaide Test. Oberoi further acknowledged travel restrictions in Australia due to COVID pandemic.

“We’ve put in a request for a couple of hundred to start with, to see how that goes. Obviously, travel between states and from overseas is compromised at the moment so we’re not having expectations of a few years ago where we had a few thousand each day. It’s a lot different this time around,” he said.

For the Boxing Day second Test, to be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26-30, 25,000 fans for each day have been allowed by the Victorian government. For the third Test in Sydney, from January 7-11, spectators will be allowed only for 50 per cent capacity of the stadium. Brisbane’s Gabba, venue of the fourth and final Test from January 15-19, can host up to 30,000 fans, which is 75 percent of its total capacity.

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