Watch: Absolute chaos outside Barabati Stadium for India vs SA 1st T20I tickets

In the era of digital payments and money transactions, fans had to wait in long lines for a ticket for India vs South Africa 1st T20I outside the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Videos have been circulating on social media platforms depicting how fans had to struggle to purchase a ticket from the ticket counter.

The first game is scheduled to be played in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. Ahead of the match, unusual chaotic scenes were captured from outside the stadium. Security personnel were there to maintain the line. But their effort might have done very little to maintain peace, as, through the video, we can see how the fans were pushing each other to move forward and shout as the counters opened for the general public.

According to a report published by India Today, the Odisha Cricket Administration released only a limited number of seats for public sale before the international fixture, which meant that many supporters were forced to stand in long queues for hours to secure their tickets. But why does the cricket governing body Odisha release a limited number of tickets for the general visitors?

Long lines outside Barabati Stadium in Cuttack for offline tickets

It is alleged that the association has issued the majority of the remaining tickets to its members and VIPs. "VIPs get passes. Fans get chaos. Absolute mayhem outside Barabati Stadium for India vs SA T20 tickets. "Forty-one thousand-plus seats at Barabati, and most are reserved as passes," a user wrote on X on Friday, December 5.

After the conclusions of a 2-match Test and a 3-match ODI series, India and South Africa will face each other for a 5-match T20I contest. The T20I series will be crucial for both of the teams, as the next T20I World Cup is scheduled to be held in 2026, in the next year. The elite tournament will be hosted in February and March.