New Delhi, August 26: India's upcoming multi-format tour of New Zealand has generated unprecedented early interest among fans, with nearly 26,000 tickets
sold within the first 48 hours of the Cricket Nation members' pre-sale.
The 12-match tour, scheduled to begin in October, has become the biggest draw in the history of New Zealand Cricket's members' pre-sale, which opened on Monday.
White-ball fixtures at Auckland's Eden Park have recorded the strongest ticket sales so far, while matches in Christchurch and Wellington have also attracted significant interest.
Christchurch's Hagley Oval, which can accommodate around 9,000 spectators, is expected to reach full capacity for the first two T20Is on October 22 and 24. The venue will also host the second and final Test of the series from November 27 to December 1.
Wellington has also witnessed strong demand, particularly for the third T20I and second ODI. The city will additionally host the opening Test at the Basin Reserve from November 19.
New Zealand Cricket chief marketing and commercial officer Glenn Critchley said the early sales reflected the excitement surrounding India's visit.
"Our message to fans from the start has been to get organised to avoid missing out - and the record sales in the first two days prove many have listened," Critchley said, as quoted by NZC.
He added that the tour presents New Zealand fans with an opportunity to watch some of the biggest names in world cricket in action.
NZC has retained ticket prices at last season's levels, with Cricket Nation members able to purchase tickets for less than NZ$30 using their access code. Members can also receive a 15 per cent discount.
The general public ticket sale is scheduled to begin on September 7, although fans can still gain access to the pre-sale by signing up for Cricket Nation.
The strong opening response underlines the significant popularity of Indian cricket in New Zealand, with fans showing considerable interest well ahead of the tour's October start.
