Cricket enthusiasts in Melbourne are getting ready for an exciting atmosphere on October 31, despite the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Tickets for the second T20I match between India and Australia at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground have been completely sold out more than three weeks prior to the event, highlighting the enduring popularity of India’s white-ball tour Down Under.
This sell-out coincides with a transitional phase for Indian cricket. With Rohit Sharma stepping down as ODI captain and Shubman Gill taking over, the team is entering a new era in T20 internationals following the retirements of Kohli and Rohit after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup victory. Emerging talents like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Verma are now making their mark in the format.
Abhishek Sharma, in particular, has become a significant draw for fans. In just 23 international matches within the past 15 months, he has scored 849 runs at an impressive strike rate of 196, solidifying his position as a favorite among supporters. Melbourne, which houses a substantial Indian migrant community in Australia, is anticipated to witness a large number of Indian fans filling the stands, eager to witness the stellar performances of players like Abhishek and Bumrah.
Cricket Australia has confirmed that ticket sales for the series have exceeded 175,000 tickets across eight matches. While public tickets for Sydney and Manuka Oval are already sold out, only limited tickets remain for Adelaide and the Gabba fixtures. Additional tickets for AFL and MCC members for the Melbourne T20I are still being released to accommodate more fans at the sold-out stadium.
Todd Greenberg, the CEO of Cricket Australia, emphasized the exceptional demand, noting that the sell-out in Melbourne reflects the immense interest surrounding India’s white-ball tour and underscores the intensity of the Australia-India rivalry. Despite the upcoming series opener in Perth, the Melbourne T20I has already generated significant buzz in the media.
As India transitions to a new leadership era with Shubman Gill in ODIs and Suryakumar Yadav in T20Is, the excitement for India-Australia matches remains strong. The packed stadiums and increasing ticket sales indicate that the allure of the competition itself – marked by high stakes, fierce competition, and cricketing drama – continues to attract fans.