Tickets sold in black outside stadium in Raipur:₹3,000 ones resold for ₹5,000 during RCB vs MI match; several fans denied entry

Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeated the Mumbai Indians by two wickets in Raipur, ending Mumbai’s hopes of qualifying for the IPL playoffs. Cricket fans showed tremendous enthusiasm for the match held at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium. Supporters from Chhattisgarh, as well as Odisha, Rajasthan and several other states, travelled to watch the game. Before the match began, a gang involved in black marketing of tickets was reportedly active outside the stadium. When a Bhaskar reporter approached the brokers posing as a customer, they quoted prices Rs 1,500 higher than the original rates. Several fans purchased tickets by paying extra money. Huge craze among Kohli and Rohit Fans A different level of excitement was seen among fans of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma during the match. A young fan from Mahasamund reached the stadium sitting on his friend’s shoulders despite having a fractured leg. Meanwhile, a supporter from Rajasthan got Suryakumar Yadav’s name painted on his body and said he had already got a tattoo dedicated to the cricketer earlier. Raipur resident Prisha Kesharwani carried a poster featuring a painting of Shri Krishna and Radha for RCB’s victory. Some fans also arrived with posters showing pictures of Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma alongside Premanand Maharaj. Enthusiasm was equally visible among children, with one father supporting Rohit Sharma while his son cheered for Virat Kohli. Heavy traffic around stadium As evening approached, traffic pressure increased on roads leading to the stadium, resulting in long traffic jams at several locations. The police and traffic department had already issued a route diversion and parking plan in advance. Meanwhile, the RCB squad arrived at the stadium under tight security, with fans greeting the players with loud cheers. In terms of previous IPL records in Raipur, teams batting second have now won four out of the six matches played at the venue so far, suggesting that chasing remains advantageous at the ground. Fans denied entry despite holding tickets Several fans were stopped outside the gates despite having valid tickets and were allegedly denied entry into the stadium. Supporters also claimed that the promised free Wi-Fi facility at the venue was not functioning. Large numbers of fans remained stranded outside Gate No. 9 for a considerable period.