What was not expected though was that the black market rates of tickets for the World Cup final would be a lot cheaper than that of the semi-final
Representation Pic
The black marketing of tickets for an international cricket match featuring India in India is like Rohit Sharma hitting a pull shot to a bouncer. It happens every time and on every ground. So, it was expected that there would be many shady characters hovering outside Gate No. 1 of the Narendra Modi Stadium before the India v Australia summit clash on Sunday. What was not expected though was that the black market rates of tickets for the World Cup final would be a lot cheaper than that of the semi-final.
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Semis tickets started at 40K
While the illegal rates for the India v New Zealand semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium two days ago ranged from R40,000 to R1.5 lakh depending on the stand, the rates for the final started at just Rs 20,000. Though there were reports that some hospitality stand tickets sold for half-a-million rupees and upwards, the starting price of the cheaper tickets saw many takers on match day. “I bought two R2,000 tickets for Rs 20,000 each. It’s expensive, but given the prospect of witnessing a world champion Indian team, it’s worth the price,” a fan, who did not wish to be named, told mid-day after his transaction on the footpath opposite the stadium’s main gate.
More seats at Ahmedabad
Also, there was good reason for the lower starting prices of black tickets here as compared to the semi-final in Mumbai. One black marketeer—face covered with a mask besides wearing dark sunglasses for added ‘protection’—told mid-day: “The capacity of the Narendra Modi Stadium is over one lakh, so it’s not easy to find too many takers if the tickets are very highly priced. At Wankhede, the capacity is just around 35,000, so fewer tickets attract premium prices. If I still have tickets left after the match begins, I will sell them for even lesser, maybe Rs 10,000.”
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