Credit: Twitter/Indian Express
One of the hottest topics of the IPL 2023 was whether it is going to be the last season for the Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni or not. Where a few incidents confirmed that ‘Thala’ is playing his last IPL this season, a few, including former CSK player Suresh Raina’s statement, put an end to the speculations. However , fans don’t want to take any chances and don’t want to miss watching Dhoni playing live, which has skyrocketed the demand for tickets for CSK's last league game.
One can confirm that from the endless queues outside the MA Chidambaram, Chepauk Stadium, Chennai. But to everyone’s surprise, homeless women and young boys who do odd jobs to sustain a living are spotted standing in the queues instead of the fans.
As per a report by the Indian Express, to get the cheapest tickets worth INR 1500, there is a long line of homeless people, students, and daily workers. These people are being paid INR 800 to stand in line by the black marketeers who will then sell these tickets for a minimum of INR 5000. Standing in the line was a teenager who said, “We are being offered Rs 800 to stand in the queue and buy tickets. We will hand them over, and those people in turn will sell them for Rs 5,000 each in the black market. This is the fourth match I’m standing in the queue for and for every six hours, I get Rs 800.”
The tickets for the CSK matches go sold out in no time, and being working-class people, fans cannot afford to stand in those lines. Such people hire others at INR 500 or so to stand in queues so that they can end up enjoying the match. According to an IndsideSport report, a fan said, "You can say it’s unethical and fueling black marketing, but that’s the only option I think I have to watch the match. I tried on PayTM Insider and on CSK websites, but all are sold out. I have an off on Sunday and don’t want to miss out on the match. If I can get a ticket, paying 500 bucks extra, why not. The person I paid to is also earning something, it’s a win-win."
Notably, Chennai Super Kings take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the MA Chidambaram in their last league match for the season on Sunday, May 14.
