India vs SA T20 at Barabati Stadium: Fans frustrated as online tickets sold out in minutes

Cricket enthusiasts in Odisha were left disappointed as online tickets for the highly anticipated India vs South Africa T20 match, scheduled to be played at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on December 9, sold out within minutes of the portal going live.

According to reports, more than 40,000 fans attempted to book tickets online, but only 2,000 tickets were available initially. With a restriction of two tickets per person, the high demand meant that all tickets were snapped up almost instantly, leaving thousands of eager cricket lovers frustrated. 

The sudden rush and limited availability exposed the overwhelming enthusiasm for international cricket in the region.

“It is not possible for us to travel 350-400 km to book offline tickets for the match. The number of online tickets should be increased,” said a cricket enthusiast from Rourkela.

Echoing the same, another Rourkela resident said, “I will urge the Odisha government to increase the online ticket counts to 20,000 for the benefit of people who cannot travel several times to book tickets and watch the match.”

Fans who successfully booked their tickets online will be able to collect hard copies from designated counters at Cambridge School, Cuttack, on December 8 and 9. Additionally, Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) affiliated units will have ticket sales on December 4, with 11,000 tickets allotted to them from the total 42,000 tickets available. 

General public ticket counters near Barabati Stadium will sell 10,000 tickets on December 5. The T20 match on December 9 is expected to attract a full house as cricket lovers from across the state look forward to witnessing a thrilling contest between India and South Africa. 

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The rapid sell-out of online tickets highlights not only the popularity of cricket but also the growing preference for digital booking channels in Odisha, reinforcing the importance of a smooth and efficient ticketing system for major sporting events.