Tickets for Sachin Tendulkar's 200th and final Test match were selling like hot cakes in the vicinity of the Wankhede Stadium yesterday with enthusiastic Mumbaikars willing to shell out astronomical sums to witness history in the making.
Black marketers were seen doing brisk business in the dark corridors outside khau gully adjacent to Cross Maidan. The strategic position of the narrow lane offers the perfect cover for the sellers to hit payday.u00a0
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It is learnt that tickets for the Sunil Gavaskar Stand that are priced at Rs 1,000, are selling for Rs 3,500, while the North Stand, valued at Rs 2,500 is commanding a price of Rs 6,000. The Garware Guest stand tickets are selling for anything between Rs 15,000- 20,000.
Jayesh Chaudhari (name changed) an ardent Tendulkar fan, told MiD DAY that he tried to purchase one of the 5000 tickets put up for sale online by the Mumbai Cricket Association but as the website crashed, he was left high and dry.
“I asked a few friends and they told me to try my luck at khau gully. I’ve managed to buy a ticket for Rs 5,000. I hope Sachin gets a hundred tomorrow,” said Chaudhari.
A man dressed in a cricket t-shirt and dark blue track pants was seen negotiating with a group of teenagers. He had five tickets for the Sunil Gavaskar Stand and after a lot of haggling finally struck a deal for Rs 15,000. When questioned, he shot back: “Such an opportunity (Tendulkar’s farewell Test) comes once in a lifetime. So, why not make the most of it?”u00a0