Hagley Oval sells out for the second T20I as India's New Zealand tour passes 76,000 tickets

New Zealand Cricket has sold out general admission for the second Twenty20 international against India at Hagley Oval on 24 October, a month before a twelve-match tour that has already moved more than 76,000 tickets

The board confirmed on Friday that the public allocation for the Christchurch fixture on Saturday 24 October had gone, leaving only limited seats for the tour opener at the same ground two days earlier.

India arrive in October for what New Zealand Cricket describes as the largest inbound tour by number of matches in its history, a programme of five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests running from 22 October to 1 December.

It will be the first meeting between the two sides since the ICC Men's T20 World Cup final in March, which India won and New Zealand lost as runners-up.

A small ground fills first

Hagley Oval holds around 9,000, and New Zealand Cricket had flagged it as a likely sell-out for both T20I openers when pre-sales opened in August, alongside the second Test that closes the tour.

"We always get a great crowd at Hagley Oval and looking at the calibre of the BLACKCAPS squad that was announced on Wednesday it's no surprise fans are chomping at the bit to be front row to the action," NZC chief marketing and commercial officer Glenn Critchley said.

Critchley framed the fixture as "a unique chance to witness a re-match between the T20 World Cup finalists in Kiwi conditions", and pointed Christchurch supporters who missed out towards the opening game on Thursday 22 October.

Sales past 76,000 in a month

The tour has driven demand since a member pre-sale took a record 26,000 tickets in its first 48 hours in late August. General public sales opened on 7 September and passed 50,000 within days.

Auckland's Eden Park has reopened its sixth tier for the fourth T20I on 30 October, the first time the top level has been used since India's 2019 visit and only the third occasion in recent years, after the 2015 World Cup and a 2018 T20I against Australia.

"Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour," NZC head of marketing Tim Ellis said this month.

Twelve matches across four cities

The T20I series runs across 11 days, with the first two matches at Hagley Oval on 22 and 24 October, the third at HNRY Stadium in Wellington on 27 October, the fourth at Eden Park on 30 October and the last at Seddon Park in Hamilton on 1 November.

The ODIs follow at Eden Park on 4 November, Wellington on 7 November, Hamilton on 10 November and Bay Oval on 13 and 15 November. The Tests are at the Basin Reserve from 19 November and at Hagley Oval from 27 November.

A World Cup final rematch

New Zealand named a 16-man T20I squad on Wednesday under white-ball captain Mitchell Santner, built around seven pace options and including 13 players from the side beaten in the World Cup final.

Adam Milne, who has not played for New Zealand since a series against Zimbabwe more than a year ago, returns alongside Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson and Jacob Duffy, with Tim Seifert and Finn Allen reunited at the top of the order.

"India is a quality team and a challenging opposition, so to take them on in our own conditions in front of Kiwi fans is really exciting," head coach Rob Walter said, adding that he expected most of the tour's matches to sell out.

Ravindra aims for the ODIs

Batting all-rounder Rachin Ravindra misses the T20Is after dislocating his right shoulder during a promotional shoot, an injury New Zealand expect to need around six weeks of rehabilitation.

"He's going to play a big role for us this summer so it's important that he doesn't rush his rehab, but we're optimistic he'll be back for the ODIs," Walter said. Seamer Ben Sears was not considered while he recovers from an ankle problem.

India open the tour at Hagley Oval on 22 October and finish at the same ground, where the second Test is scheduled to end on 1 December.

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