Eden Gardens in Kolkata has welcomed back a 70% spectator audience for a T20 cricket match between India and New Zealand, though some fans were left unhappy due to tickets being sold primarily online.
The sale of tickets online provided a breeding ground for ticket scalpers trying to sell tickets outside the venue ahead of the match. It has been reported by The Indian Express that 11 people were arrested near Eden Gardens for allegedly selling tickets illegally.
Around 60 tickets were seized from those arrested, who were trying to sell the tickets for a higher rate after tickets sold out online within 15 minutes. Previously tickets were sold as a mixture of online and at ticket kiosks, leaving fans wondering how to purchase tickets if they do not have the correct app or access to the internet.
The Bengal Government allowed 70% of fans to return, which amounted to around 47,600 spectators. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, Eden Gardens has only held one sporting event, a football cup final between Mohammedan SC and FC Goa in October.
It is the first cricketing event held at the stadium since November 2019, when India played Bangladesh in a pink ball day-night test.
The T20 International is the third match of New Zealand’s tour of India, with India winning all three. India and New Zealand will now focus their attention on two upcoming test matches.
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