IPL FEVER: With 1st CSK match today, frenzied fans scramble for tickets

The stadium and its precincts wore a festive look as ardent fans of CSK lined up the roads attired in the team's jersey to catch a glimpse of the team’s training session. All the tickets for the first match were sold within six hours at the ticket counters on day one. Even those who tried booking the tickets online through BookMyShow had to face disappointment as all were sold out. Hence, people are turning to the black markets where tickets are priced as high as Rs 15,000, sources said. “I was at the counter for the first match of CSK but was disappointed as all tickets were sold out. Though the original ticket price is around Rs 3,500, there were people selling it for Rs 12,000-Rs 15,000,” said Sriman, a fan.

Not just tickets, but betting costs are also hitting the roof this year with mobile applications and online betting sites allowing people to deposit money and having their accounts on their website, similar to online games. Apps like Cricline, Indiabet and Betway have priced the entry within a range of Rs 500 to Rs 10,000, whereas the maximum amount is about Rs 1 lakh. “Apps like Cricline, Indiabet and Betway have priced the entry as high as Rs 10,000,” said Abhishek Yadav, a cricket enthusiast.

For Chennaiites, CSK is an emotion. This was evident as thousands thronged the stands during the practice sessions and warm-up matches. “Over 12,000 people cheered for the team during the practice sessions. We expect over 26,000 people on Saturday,” said R N Baba, media manager, Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The CSK team has assigned some special seats for their disabled fans with wheelchair access. Those tickets are available only at the box office counter in limited numbers.