Real cricket paglus: Fans pack Kolkata, Chennai for neutral T20 World Cup games
India Today
Kolkata and Chennai have brushed aside low-turnout worries at the T20 World Cup 2026 by turning up in strong numbers for neutral fixtures. From Eden Gardens to Chepauk, fans have shown the tournament buzz is alive.
Kolkata and Chennai have quietly answered one of the early talking points of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The murmurs about empty stands for matches not involving India have been brushed aside with just one simple move - people simply showing up.
With this edition of the tournament being an extended one with 20-teams involved, there was a sense that the tournament might lose some of its usual crowd pull. No India vs Pakistan clash on Indian soil, fewer marquee moments, and plenty of neutral fixtures on the calendar.
But the first week itself has offered a reminder that cricket crowds here are not always driven only by the home team. Sometimes, the World Cup badge and the promise of a good contest are enough.
On Sunday, February 8, the MA Chidambaram Stadium hosted New Zealand vs Afghanistan, a match that had plenty going for it cricket-wise but not the usual “India factor” attached.
NZ vs AFG, T20 World Cup: Highlights | Scorecard
Still, Chepauk did what Chepauk does best. More than 20,000 fans turned up, settling in for a contest between two sides expected to go deep into the tournament. New Zealand’s discipline against Afghanistan’s flair made it a fixture worth watching, and the crowd treated it like one. The Chepauk stadium enjoyed the T20 World Cup action, even without India. (Photo: X/T20 World Cup)
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