Virat Kohli alone makes ticket sales skyrocket; people forget anger of flight delay at airport: Report

By Admin

05 Dec, 2025

Virat Kohli’s return to Visakhapatnam has triggered a level of frenzy that the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) says it has “rarely witnessed.” What began as a lukewarm One-Day International between India and South Africa has now transformed into one of the most sought-after matches of the season   all thanks to Kohli’s back-to-back centuries.

A Sudden Turnaround in Ticket Sales
When the first phase of ticket sales opened on November 28, response was underwhelming. Interest in the series was low, and officials even discussed opening physical counters despite the fully digital sale system. But everything changed the moment Kohli smashed consecutive hundreds in Ranchi (November 30) and Raipur (December 3). According to Y. Venkatesh from ACA’s Media and Operations team, the second and third phases sold out within minutes.

Ticket prices ranging from ₹1,200 to ₹18,000 did little to deter fans. The moment Kohli rediscovered his classic ODI form, demand skyrocketed   driven not just by his centuries, but also by his incredible record in Visakhapatnam, where he averages 97.83 with three centuries and a near-hundred.

Excitement Spills Over to the Airport
Two days before the match, the atmosphere in Vizag grew electric. Fans flocked to the city’s airport, waiting for hours   even through multiple flight delays   just to catch a glimpse of Kohli and the Indian team. Security personnel were overwhelmed answering the same question repeatedly: “When are they landing?”

Even as the team’s flight from Raipur was delayed several times, supporters remained glued to the arrival gate. The plane finally departed Raipur around 6 pm, sending a wave of excitement through the waiting crowd in Vizag.

A Chaotic Yet Emotional Scene at Raipur Airport
Earlier in the day, Raipur Airport witnessed an unusual emotional swing. Passengers furious over flight delays reportedly stopped arguing with airline staff the moment the Indian cricketers appeared. As Kohli and his teammates stepped onto the escalator, the entire terminal erupted in cheers, phones went up in the air, and frustration momentarily vanished.

But the excitement was brief   within minutes, travellers returned to complaining about delays. This instant flip in emotions perfectly captured the magnetic influence India’s cricket stars, especially Kohli, continue to hold.

Vizag Gears Up for a Packed Stadium
By Thursday night, when the team finally landed in Vizag, the city was already in celebration mode. With Kohli at the centre of the hype, the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium is gearing up for a full house on Sunday.

Whether India wins or loses, one thing is clear: Virat Kohli’s presence alone can turn a low-interest match into a nationwide spectacle   and even make people forget their anger over delayed flights.