Auckland, Aug 27: New Zealand Cricket has reported an unprecedented response to tickets for India’s upcoming tour, with more than 26,000 tickets sold within the first 48 hours of sales opening.
The strong early demand underlines the enormous interest surrounding India’s visit and is expected to make the tour one of the biggest cricketing attractions on New Zealand’s home calendar.
According to New Zealand Cricket, the strongest ticket sales have been recorded for the white-ball matches at Eden Park in Auckland, traditionally one of the country’s premier cricket venues. The surge in demand has raised expectations of packed stands when India take on the Black Caps later this year.
Hagley Oval in Christchurch, which has a capacity of around 9,000 spectators, is also on course for sell-out crowds. The venue will host the opening two T20Is on October 22 and 24, before staging the second and final Test of the tour from November 27 to December 1.
New Zealand Cricket also reported strong ticket sales for matches at HNR Stadium in Wellington, which is scheduled to host the third T20I as well as the second ODI of the series.
The tour is expected to attract significant attention across New Zealand, with Indian cricket’s vast global following adding to the anticipation surrounding the series. The visit will also provide fans with an opportunity to watch several of the game’s leading players compete across multiple formats.
The Indian team is scheduled to play a full international programme in New Zealand, featuring five Tests, five ODIs and five T20Is in October, according to the tour schedule.
The early ticket figures have given New Zealand Cricket further reason for optimism ahead of the series, with demand particularly strong for limited-overs fixtures and key Test matches.
With months still to go before the teams take the field, the response from supporters has already set the tone for what promises to be a high-profile summer of international cricket in New Zealand.