Gujarat : IPL Final Fever Sparks Ticket Black Market Boom in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — As Ahmedabad gears up for the blockbuster IPL 2026 final between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 31, excitement among cricket fans has reached fever pitch. But alongside the anticipation, a thriving black market for match tickets has emerged, with desperate fans being forced to pay several times the original price to secure a seat at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

With the world’s largest cricket stadium expected to host more than one lakh spectators, demand for tickets has far outstripped supply. Tickets originally priced at ₹3,000 are reportedly being sold unofficially for anywhere between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000. Premium President Gallery passes, officially among the most expensive seats, are allegedly commanding prices ranging from ₹50,000 to as high as ₹1 lakh in the black market.

The Ahmedabad Police has also started strict action against the black marketing of tickets. In just one day, the Crime Branch and Chandkheda Police have registered a total of three crimes. Based on the information received by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, two accused named Man Patel and Safiq alias Bunny Ansari were arrested from Sindhubhavan Road. Four tickets of the IPL final match and a mobile phone were seized from them. According to the police, both the accused were trying to sell the tickets at a higher price.

The Chandkheda Police have arrested five accused in two separate cases. In the first case, Manthan Jain and Mit Harwani were arrested with five tickets. Both were preparing to sell tickets worth Rs 3,000 for Rs 10,000. In the second case, the accused named Ishan Bhatt, Nirmal Jain and Rishabh Chandra Jain were trying to sell a ticket worth Rs 3,500 for Rs 15,000. The police have seized the tickets in both the cases and initiated legal action.

“Buy now if you want a ticket. Prices will only go higher as match day gets closer,” one ticket reseller reportedly told prospective buyers, highlighting the soaring demand ahead of the title clash.

The black-ticket trade is flourishing primarily through social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram. Agents post advertisements claiming limited ticket availability and often demand advance payments or booking tokens from interested buyers. In many cases, fans have little choice but to trust the sellers due to the scarcity of official tickets.

However, authorities and experts warn that the booming underground market has also become a breeding ground for fraud.

“Several buyers have lost money after making advance payments to unknown sellers. In some cases, fraudsters disappear after receiving payment. Others sell colour photocopies of genuine tickets, which are rejected during entry scans at the stadium,” a source familiar with ticketing operations said.

The risk has done little to dampen enthusiasm among cricket lovers eager to witness the high-stakes final featuring two of the tournament’s biggest teams.

Meanwhile, organizers have announced extensive parking arrangements to handle the expected crowd. Through the Show My Parking platform, spectators can reserve parking slots in advance. Charges have been fixed at ₹120 for two-wheelers and ₹500 for four-wheelers, with nine general parking zones and two VIP parking facilities available around the stadium.

As the countdown to the final enters its final hours, authorities are urging fans to purchase tickets only through authorized channels. With prices climbing rapidly and scams on the rise, the dream of watching the IPL final live is becoming increasingly expensive—and risky—for thousands of cricket enthusiasts.