The Royal Challengers Bangalore’s entry into the final of the ninth edition of the Indian Premier League – following their victory against Gujarat Lions in the Qualifier 1 – has brought action in the city.
RCB’s remarkable run in the second half of the tournament has thrown fans into the grip of a serious cricket fever, and the tickets for the May 29 summit clash at the Chinnaswamy stadium here were sold out as of Wednesday. When RCB captain Virat Kohli and his men take on the winner of the Qualifier 2 on Sunday, it will be their first IPL final on home turf.
With the ticket counters opening between 11 am and 6 pm at gate no 8 (redemption of online tickets) and gate no 12 (cash), enthusiastic fans were queuing up as early as 8 am, eager to see their home team lift their maiden title.
Police had to wield lathis to control those who tried to break through the barricades.
“Line management and crowd controlling was a challenge,” said Sandeep Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central). “There was a massive demand and the queue for the online redemption of tickets went as far as Queen’s Circle. But it was peaceful and fans refrained from creating a chaotic situation. Since people turned out in large numbers, managing the queues at the counters was challenging,” Patil said.
According to Karnataka State Cricket Association sources, tickets were sold out within two hours, leaving many disappointed. The sale of online tickets ranging from Rs 750 to Rs 25,000, which began on May 13, were also sold out. “I checked online for tickets to the finals even before the Qualifier 1 and was disappointed to see it was sold out. I was lucky to watch an exciting Qualifier 1, but it is sad that I won’t be in the stadium for the final ” said Rashmi G, a software professional.
Tickets are also being sold through social media channels. “My friend found a Facebook link where IPL final tickets were on sale and he bought a few of them,” said Harsha, an IT Professional.
Published 25 May 2016, 19:57 IST