India vs New Zealand final ticket prices have surged in the resale market ahead of Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, as demand overwhelmed supply.
Official tickets, starting at 2,000 Indian rupees, sold out within minutes on BookMyShow, prompting many fans to seek tickets through unofficial channels.
Reuters reported that some tickets with a face value of 3,500 rupees were being sold for 54,000 rupees on the eve of the match, highlighting how quickly black market rates have escalated.
India vs New Zealand Final Ticket Prices
Fans described a resale ecosystem fueled by private networks, including WhatsApp groups that add buyers only after they prove seriousness and pay in advance
One Mumbai businessman told Reuters he paid 35,000 rupees for a 3,000-rupee ticket after failing to clear the waiting list.
The sharp price hikes have left many supporters frustrated, with concerns that desperate buyers could fall victim to scams.
Local media reported that Ahmedabad police arrested a youth for reselling tickets at inflated rates. The Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) said it had no knowledge of activity happening outside official ticketing channels.
GCA secretary Anil Patel told Reuters that bookings happen only through the BookMyShow app and that the association does not sell physical tickets.
Read: India Beat England to Reach T20 World Cup Final After Seven-Run Thriller
The International Cricket Council ignored Reuters’ request for comment, according to the report. Fans’ scramble for tickets sparked a surge in travel costs, with hotel rates in Ahmedabad soaring as supporters arrived for the final.
Reuters reported that some hotels hiked prices by at least 10 times, yet properties near the stadium booked up completely despite the increases.
Budget hotels on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway and in nearby Gandhinagar, typically around 4,000 rupees per night, were reportedly demanding 40,000 rupees.