India vs Pak clash fuels ODI WC 2027 ticket frenzy as demand crosses 1.1 million

File Pic: Shaheen Shah Afridi of Pakistan (R) speaks to Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill of India (Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: More than 1.1 million ticket applications have already been submitted for the 2027 ODI World Cup, with the India-Pakistan clash emerging as the biggest draw just days after the ballot opened on October 1, while India's other marquee fixtures are also generating extraordinary demand.More than 320,000 fans have registered for the ticket ballot since it opened, with applications pouring in for matches across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The ballot will remain open until 23:59 CAT on November 21, giving supporters around the world more time to enter the draw.

India-Pakistan clash leads massive ticket rush

The October 10 India-Pakistan group-stage clash in Johannesburg has attracted more than 110,000 ticket applications, making it the most sought-after fixture of the tournament so far.

The two sides are in Group A alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.But the demand is not limited to the traditional India-Pakistan rivalry. The India-South Africa fixture has already received more than 92,000 applications, while India's meeting with Australia has attracted over 86,000.That means India's first three major group-stage fixtures occupy the top three spots in terms of ticket demand, underlining the enormous following for Shubman Gill's side even before the tournament gets underway.

India will open their campaign against defending champions Australia in Cape Town on October 7, before facing Pakistan three days later in Johannesburg. The South Africa fixture is also among the most anticipated matches of the tournament, giving the hosts a major attraction against one of the sport's biggest fan bases.

India feature in all four most in-demand fixtures

India's popularity is further underlined by the demand for the pre-seeded Super 7 fixture against Pakistan on November 7.

That match has already received almost 78,000 applications, making it the fourth most sought-after fixture at this stage.The November 21 final has also attracted close to 69,000 applications, highlighting the appetite for the tournament's biggest matches even before the group stage begins.The ballot's overwhelming early response has given organisers a clear indication of the global interest in the tournament, which will be staged across three southern African nations.ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said the initial figures reflected the stature of the event and its growing global reach.“One million ticket applications in just over 48 hours of opening the ticket ballot is a demonstration of the attention, stature and affiliation for ICC Cricket World Cup 2027,” Gupta said.“ICC events are now spectacles which transcend cultural and geographic boundaries and serve as platforms to widen and deepen fandom for the sport.”

Africa prepares for World Cup return

The 2027 tournament will mark the return of a major ICC men's event to Africa after two decades, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia sharing hosting duties. The competition begins with the three-team Super Series in Namibia on October 2, before the group stage gets underway on October 7. The final is scheduled for Johannesburg on November 21.Gupta said the tournament would also provide an opportunity to expand cricket's reach across the continent.“This is also Africa’s moment to shine as an ICC marquee men’s event is returning to the continent after two decades and brings with it the attention of 2.5 billion cricket fans across 120+ countries,” he said.Qondisa Ngwenya, CEO of the 2027 World Cup Local Organising Committee, said the early ticket response was a “major statement by global fans” and showed the appetite to experience the tournament in southern Africa.

With more than 1.1 million ticket applications already submitted and the ballot still open for several weeks, organisers can expect the numbers to climb further as anticipation builds for a World Cup featuring India-Pakistan, India-Australia and India-South Africa among its biggest early attractions.