The buzz surrounding India’s white-ball tour of Australia has hit new heights, with tickets for the third ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground selling out four months in advance. Cricket Australia confirmed that public tickets for the headline Sydney match and the first T20I in Canberra have all sold out, an indication of the ferocity of the India-Australia rivalry and the pull of cricketing greats Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
Limited Rohit and Kohli Appearances Fuel Demand
Given that both Kohli and Rohit are now only playing ODI cricket, fans are taking every opportunity to see them play together. The Sydney ODI, more than any other match, is viewed as a limited and perhaps last such experience to see the two legends playing together in Australia.
Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager of Events & Operations, Joel Morrison, acknowledged this feeling, and said:
We are excited to witness strong ongoing interest among the Indian diaspora, fueled in no small measure by the expectation of witnessing greats such as Rohit and Kohli in action. The Sydney ODI has all the makings of a blockbuster.”
Indian Diaspora Makes Aussie Stadiums Home Grounds
The increasing support among the Indian diaspora has been at the forefront of the ticketing boom. Fan clubs like Bharat Army and Fans India have purchased in the thousands, guaranteeing an electric and vibrant atmosphere. Community groups like Brissy Baniyas and the Indian Community of Gold Coast are also adding to the vibrant fanbase at venues.
More than 90,000 Tickets Sold
The India-Australia tour series gets underway on October 19 in Perth and concludes on November 8 in Brisbane. But the Sydney ODI will be the emotional highlight. With more than 90,000 tickets already sold for all matches so far, the tour is no longer a sporting event—it’s being hailed as a possible farewell tour for two of India’s greatest cricketing legends.
For most people, each innings by Rohit and Kohli in this series is a moment of nostalgia and jubilation, the end of a superlative chapter in Indian cricket.
