MCG T20I Tickets Sold Out: India vs Australia Match Draws Massive Demand Three Weeks Before Game

Cricket Australia announced on Monday that public tickets for the India-Australia T20I at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 31 have completely sold out—more than three weeks before the match. This remarkable achievement underscores the enduring appeal of cricket's most commercially powerful rivalry, even without retired stars Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma participating in the T20 format.

Record-Breaking Ticket Sales

The MCG, with its capacity to hold around 100,000 spectators, reached full public allocation weeks ahead of schedule, joining Sydney's venue and Canberra's Manuka Oval in the sold-out category. Overall ticket sales for India's white-ball tour have surpassed 175,000 across eight matches, with only approximately 30,000 tickets remaining for the entire series.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg expressed enthusiasm about the unprecedented demand:

"The huge crowd anticipated for the Melbourne T20I is another strong indicator of the incredible interest in this series. We're thrilled to see fans embracing the Australia v India contest with such passion, and we look forward to delivering a world-class experience both on and off the field."

He added:

"To have over 175,000 tickets sold with 13 days until the first ODI in Perth is a phenomenal result. It speaks volumes about the strength of the rivalry and the enthusiasm of fans across the country."

Other Venues Nearing Capacity

The ticket frenzy extends beyond Melbourne. Public allocations for Sydney and Manuka Oval (Canberra) matches are already exhausted, while the Adelaide ODI and Brisbane's Gabba T20I are nearing capacity with fewer than 5,000 public tickets remaining for each venue.

While public tickets are sold out for the MCG match, AFL member tickets went on sale Monday, with MCC member tickets available from Tuesday, giving some fans additional opportunities to secure entry.

The Star Power Effect—Without the Usual Stars

What makes this sell-out particularly noteworthy is that neither Virat Kohli nor Rohit Sharma will feature in the T20I series, having retired from the format following India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. The T20I squad, led by Suryakumar Yadav, represents a new generation including explosive talents like Abhishek Sharma, who has scored 849 runs at a strike rate of 196 in just 23 international matches over 15 months.

Melbourne's large Indian diaspora—comprising over a third of Australia's Indian migrant population—ensures passionate support regardless of which players take the field. The India-Australia rivalry itself has become the draw, transcending individual stars.

The Tour Schedule

India's white-ball tour begins with ODIs on October 19 in Perth, followed by matches in Adelaide (October 23) and Sydney (October 25). Shubman Gill leads the ODI squad, with Kohli and Rohit included as specialist batsmen.

The five-match T20I series kicks off October 29 in Canberra, with the sold-out MCG fixture on October 31, followed by games in Hobart (November 2), Gold Coast (November 6), and Brisbane (November 8).

The last time India toured Australia for bilateral ODIs in 2020/21, they lost 2-1 but won the T20I series by the same margin, setting the stage for another closely contested series.