E-ticket Holders Denied Entry, Fans Forced to Return
Entry was allowed only with hard-copy tickets — a rule many spectators from distant areas were unaware of. With no facility to print tickets near the venue, hundreds were stopped at the gates and had to return without watching the match.
Food Sold at Four Times the Price
Inside the stadium, vendors charged exorbitant rates: chips for ₹150, ice cream for ₹200, and other snacks at inflated prices. Vendors claimed the rates were fixed by the BCCI. Purchases were allowed only in cash, adding to the inconvenience.
Overcrowding in Every Stand
Each stand saw 20–25% more spectators than its official capacity. People stood on stairways and corridors; families with young children were forced to leave due to pushing and overcrowding. One fan described the situation as “more like a stampede than a cricket match.”
Ticket Black-Marketing Rampant
Scalpers openly sold tickets outside the venue. A fan paid ₹8,000 for a ticket originally priced at ₹3,500. Another spectator was charged ₹10,000 for a ticket that later turned out to be a complimentary pass.
Government Offices Ran Empty
Many officials were assigned match duty, leaving government offices almost deserted. Visitors to the collectorate, tehsil, and municipal offices returned without getting any work done.
Fans Broke Security, Jumped Walls
Crowd pressure at Gate No. 6 led several youths to force their way inside. Some even scaled boundary walls without tickets, videos of which are now viral.
Incidents on the Field
A fan breached security to touch Virat Kohli’s feet during the drinks break. Security removed him immediately. Two similar attempts were made during India’s fielding innings. A similar incident had occurred in Raipur in 2023 when a 13-year-old ran onto the field to hug Rohit Sharma.
Traffic Chaos
Massive jams before and after the match caused hours-long delays. For many spectators, the chaos overshadowed the cricket.
