Delhi may witness half empty stands during several T20 World Cup matches this week, with exams becoming the main reason. Board exams and school tests have reduced public interest, especially for matches that do not involve India.
The Delhi & Districts Cricket Association is hosting five ICC T20 World Cup matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium over nine days. Tickets for India vs Namibia on February 12 are sold out, but the remaining matches have seen very low demand.
In an effort to fill seats, DDCA contacted schools and offered free entry to students accompanied by teachers. Students were required to attend in school uniform, a strategy that had worked successfully in previous tournaments.
This time, however, the plan did not succeed because examinations are underway. Central Board of Secondary Education Class 10 and 12 board exams begin next week, while many schools are already conducting annual examinations.
A senior DDCA official said there is almost no demand for non India matches. He explained that only the India game has attracted strong ticket sales, while neutral matches have failed to generate excitement among local fans.
The official also noted that cities like Mumbai saw strong support from Nepal fans during matches. Delhi, in comparison, does not have a similar fan base to fill the stadium for games without India.
Match timing has added to the challenge. All four non India matches are scheduled on weekdays. Three matches begin at 11 am and one starts at 3 pm, when most people are busy with work or studies.
Organisers were hoping that school students would help improve attendance and stadium atmosphere. With examinations taking priority, that plan has become impossible to implement.
As a result, the Arun Jaitley Stadium is expected to be full only for India’s match. The remaining ICC T20 World Cup games in Delhi may be played in front of largely empty stands.
