Tickets sold out for India’s first ODI with Australia in Bangalore

The tickets for the first match of one-day international series between India and Australia scheduled in Bangalore on September 29 were sold out within hours after the sale began.

India’s good performance in the T20 cricket world cup in South Africa had apparently fuelled the sale of tickets.

The fans had begun gathering outside the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore on Sunday evening, much before the counters opened on Monday morning. By afternoon, an estimated 12,000 tickets for the general public were sold and the authorities had to display the “Tickets Sold Out” board.

Though tickets for one-day internationals are normally sold out fast, the tickets for the September 29 match between India and Australia were taken away in quick time, thanks to the Indian team’s performance in the T20 world cup, a KSCA official said.

Meanwhile, the Bangalore police is bracing itself to provide the necessary security to the Indian cricket team when it arrives in the City for the one-day tie with Australia. “We will be ready. We expect large crowds at the airport, at the hotel and at the stadium as the people will be eager to new champions”, a police official said.

A hero’s welcome awaits the captain of the triumphant T20 cricket team Mahendra Singh Dhoni in Bangalore, given the excitement in the City over India’s thrilling victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the T20 world cup finals at Johannesburg on Monday.

Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is himself a cricket enthusiast, has announced a cash prize of Rs 500,000 each to batsman Robin Uthappa and bowling coach Venkatesh Prasad.