India v Australia Test series: Fans frustrated as ticket agencies report no tickets available for day one of fourth test

Tens of thousands of fans — including travelling Australians — are in danger of being locked out of the fourth Test due to more than 80,000 tickets being set aside to welcome India’s Prime Minister and Anthony Albanese.

Frustrated Australian and Indian fans have reported that there are no public tickets available for the fist day of the Ahmedabad Test.

The 130,000 seat stadium could be cavernously empty, but Indian authorities have set aside 85,000 for what they describe as local families and students.

Controversial Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is hosting his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese at the Test match.

The pair are expected to attend the anthems at the beginning of play and both are looking to appear in the commentary boxes in the morning.

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Security is famously tight around Modi and any visiting dignitaries, but the Indian PM is notorious for stage managing events.

It is expected that hordes of his handpicked fans will fill the stadium for his appearance at the national anthem with the Australian PM.

It is understood the Australian government and cricket board is working to find a place for travelling Australian fans.

Ticket websites are telling fans there are no seats available in the 130,000-seat stadium that day.

With neither of the first two Tests lasting three full days it is an enormous frustration to the hundreds of Australians who have travelled to India for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Not to mention tens of thousands of local cricket fans.

Anthony Albanese with the PM’s XI cricket team.

The Prime Minister watches the Boxing Day Test.

Albanese is leading a trade delegation to India for the Test match with over 20 chief executives travelling to India for talks.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate in Delhi has been preparing the visit for months.

Albanese is a keen cricket fan who is understood to be keen to join the English commentary team while Modi is understood to be considering an appearance on the Hindu channel.

Australian and Indian cricket fans at the Indore Test were outraged that they could not purchase tickets for the first day of the game.

Sydney fan Michelle Ryan, who travels to almost every game Australia plays, is not impressed by the situation.

“It is absolutely disgraceful to deprive any cricket fans the opportunity to attend the match,” she said. “I would like to know how long they are going to be at the stadium.

“I think our Prime Minister should be using his time in India on more important issues than meeting dignitaries that PM Modi is trying to impress.”

A general view of the Sardar Patel Stadium, the world's biggest cricket stadium, in Ahmedabad.

It is understood that the two leaders will not stay for the whole day.

Another fan Ankur Velma found the situation baffling.

“When the tickets came out for sale for a moment O thought that BCCI has changed the dates,” he said.

“I found out it was day 2 tried contacting Bookmyshow they are still saying information is awaited for the concerned event.

“There is no clarity on the tickets even though the Ahmedabad test is only seven days away.”

Other fans complained they could not contact the help lines for ticket sales.

@allaboutcric_ Despicable handling of ticketing by @BCCI@GCAMotera for 4th Test in Ahmedabad..@bookmyshow Sorry answer is we can't sell you Day One (9 Mar) Tickets. Who on earth manages ticketing like this...Only the Arrogant powers be @BCCI will manage it like this!! https://t.co/pgI3Xlt6Egpic.twitter.com/S63R7WtLRg

— PK (@pkvashok) February 28, 2023

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Originally published as India v Australia Test series: Fans frustrated as ticket agencies report no tickets available for day one of fourth test