Nagpur: The India vs New Zealand T20 International at VCA Stadium, Jamtha, which ended in a convincing 48-run win for India, has once again brought the issue of ticket black marketing in Nagpur into sharp focus. With long gaps between major international fixtures at the venue and no IPL or T20 World Cup 2026 matches scheduled in the city, demand for tickets far exceeded supply, creating a thriving black market.
Scarcity of Matches Drives Frenzy
Jamtha Stadium hosts international cricket only occasionally, making every high-profile fixture a rare opportunity for Vidarbha’s cricket lovers. After the India–Australia Test in the 2022–23 season and the India–England ODI in February 2025, fans had waited months for another marquee clash. The January 21, 2026 T20I against New Zealand triggered massive demand, which black marketers allegedly exploited.
Sources indicated that ticket prices were resold at several times their original value within hours of official sales opening. Tickets priced at ₹650 were reportedly sold for ₹5,000, ₹750 tickets for ₹10,000, ₹2,500 tickets for ₹15,000, and ₹4,000 tickets for as high as ₹20,000. Many genuine fans were either forced to pay inflated rates or missed the match altogether.
On-Field Action Intensified Demand
Excitement around India’s aggressive T20 brand of cricket further fueled the craze. Abhishek Sharma’s blistering 84 off 35 balls, including eight sixes, and Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 44 off 20 deliveries powered India to a dominant total. Glenn Phillips fought back with a 40-ball 78 for New Zealand, but the visitors fell short.
The return of key players and India’s strong T20 form significantly boosted fan enthusiasm, which in turn drove up illegal resale prices outside official ticketing platforms.
Betting Activity Added to Rush
Heavy interest from betting syndicates also contributed to the surge in demand. Despite New Zealand’s competitive record against India in ICC events, betting circles reportedly favored India strongly for this encounter. Bookies from various parts of the country were said to have arrived in Nagpur ahead of the match, increasing overall ticket demand and off-market transactions.
Police Action, But Problem Persists
Anticipating illegal activities, the Nagpur Police Crime Branch and Cyber Cell had stepped up monitoring ahead of the match. Officials reviewed records of known offenders, deployed multiple surveillance teams, and tracked suspicious online betting activity. A youth was recently arrested in connection with ticket black marketing.
Authorities had also tightened vigilance after previous incidents, including the arrest of four bookies inside the stadium during the 2023 India–Australia Test. However, despite increased enforcement, illegal ticket resale continued through unofficial channels.
Structural Issue Behind Repeated Black Marketing
Experts believe the recurring black marketing of cricket tickets at Jamtha is rooted in structural issues rather than isolated incidents. The limited number of international matches hosted in Nagpur, coupled with the absence of IPL fixtures and no scheduled T20 World Cup 2026 games, creates intense pressure on ticket availability whenever a big match is held.
Unless Nagpur secures more regular high-profile cricket fixtures, ticket black marketing is likely to remain a persistent problem at VCA Jamtha.
