Absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli blunts Asia Cup India-Pakistan ticket frenzy

Organisers had attributed slow uptake to package-only offerings and premium pricing, yet a senior Emirates Cricket official has now pointed to a more compelling factor: the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli from T20 internationals.

Traditionally, tickets for an IND-PAK encounter sell out within hours of release, with fans clamoring for any available seat. For the Champions Trophy meeting between these two sides last year, tickets vanished twice in a single day—first at a 2:00 PM release and again at 4:00 PM—with both windows closing in under four minutes. This time, however, demand has remained muted. While lower-stand allocations have largely been snapped up, significant inventory remains in the upper and premium tiers.

Premium seats continue to be priced at Rs.2.5 lakh, yet potential buyers appear unperturbed by these rates, a stark contrast to the usual frenzy. “We are surprised that the flow of sales for India vs Pakistan is much lower,” the official remarked, noting that the ticket window remains open with sales trickling in, even with fewer than three days until the fixture.

Analysts suggest that without Sharma and Kohli—icons who retired from the shortest format following India’s T20 World Cup triumph over South Africa—some casual fans may be less motivated to invest in high-priced tickets. With the tournament upon us, organisers are exploring last-minute promotions to boost attendance, but the absence of these marquee stars has undoubtedly tempered the excitement surrounding cricket’s fiercest rivalry.