The current edition of ICC T20 World Cup is being hosted by India and Sri Lanka and like other major stadiums in both countries, New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium has also got the opportunity to host some of the matches in the tournament. On Feb 10, the stadium hosted their first match of the tournament – between the Netherlands and Namibia – and after the match, while leaving the stadium, one of the spectators noticed an unusual ‘scam’ done by a food and beverage agent. stationed inside the stadium.
The video, shared on Instagram and other social media platforms, exposed alleged unhygienic practices at the stadium. The clip shows stadium vendors or staff collecting leftover Thums Up soda from used cups and pouring it back into empty small plastic
bottles. In the footage, workers are seen gathering partially consumed drinks – presumably discarded or returned by spectators – into a container before refilling original Thums Up bottles. The person said, “Arun Jaitley Stadium mein ab jo Thums Up ki bachi hui bottle hai na, usko fir se bottle mein bhar rahe hain log. Agla match jo bhi aayega, wahi purani wali bottle bikegi. Poora scam chal raha hai bhai, saaf dikhta hai na?”
Internet Reacted To This Strongly
Multiple similar videos surfaced around the same time (February 11–12), with users labelling it a serious health hazard and “criminal negligence.” Complaints highlighted risks of contamination, saliva mixing, and potential spread of infections, especially given the high-traffic nature of cricket matches at the venue. The incident sparked intense online reactions, with calls for immediate investigation by stadium authorities, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) and Coca-Cola India (Thums Up’s parent company).
“Ispe action lo. Yeh kisi ke health ke saath majak kr rhe h,” read a comment.
Another person urged action on this issue, “Can we see someone taking action?”
A third commented, “Such cheap people.”
But some opined the situation differently, “What if the employee are taking them to their home to have it later?????are you sure they are going to serve it later? Do you have the proof ??? Or it’s just your prejudiced speculation.”
No Official Statement On The Issue By DDCA
As of mid-February 2026, no official statement had been issued by the stadium management or the brand in response to the backlash. Many discussed that an event like the T20 World Cup should be treated as a proper example of raising the benchmark for public health and hygiene, as several foreigners visit the country around this time. With Arun Jaitley likely to host five more matches in the tournament – including the likes of India and, later, South Africa and Australia- it will be interesting to see how the management takes a stance on this issue.
The other matches in the stadium are – Canada vs UAE (Feb 13), Afghanistan vs UAE (Feb 16) and South Africa vs UAE (Feb 18).
