The absence of Indian cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma hasn’t dampened the excitement in Melbourne one bit. With two weeks still to go before India’s white-ball tour of Australia begins, tickets for the second T20I at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on October 31 have already been snapped up — proof of the massive buzz surrounding the next generation of Indian stars.
Melbourne Gears Up for a New Era of Indian Cricket
India’s white-ball campaign kicks off on October 19 with a three-match ODI series, followed by a five-match T20I series. Despite the absence of two of the game’s biggest names, demand for tickets has surged, signalling that the baton has well and truly passed to a new leadership core led by Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma.
The contrast from just a few months ago is stark. After Kohli and Rohit announced their retirement from Test cricket in May, fan response to the new-look Indian side was muted — so much so that no one turned up to welcome the team when they arrived in London for the Test series against England. That was a far cry from the scenes in Perth during the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when security had to be ramped up just to control the crowd gathered to see “King Kohli.”
Abhishek and Gill Lead the Next-Gen Charge
Concerns about whether Indian cricket could produce stars beyond Kohli and Rohit are now firmly put to rest. History shows the baton has always been passed seamlessly — from Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar, to Sachin Tendulkar and the Fab Five, and later to Kohli and Rohit. Now, Gill and Abhishek look ready to carry that legacy forward.
Gill, long seen as Kohli’s natural successor, has already proven his mettle as captain and batter, while Abhishek Sharma’s explosive T20 performances have made him the face of India’s future in the format. His stellar showing in the Asia Cup 2025, where he smashed 314 runs in seven innings and was named Player of the Tournament, turned him into an overnight fan favourite.
MCG Sells Out and Ticket Sales Hit Record Numbers
The duo’s rising stardom, coupled with India’s dominance in T20Is, has resulted in record-breaking ticket sales. Cricket Australia confirmed that tickets for the Melbourne T20I are officially sold out, while Sydney and Manuka Oval games are already at full capacity. Limited tickets remain for Adelaide and Gabba matches, and even AFL and MCC member tickets for the MCG are being released to meet demand.
“The huge crowd expected for the Melbourne T20I shows the incredible passion fans have for this series,” said Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg. “Over 175,000 tickets sold across eight matches with almost two weeks to go is a phenomenal result.”
End of an Era Looms
While the T20I series marks a fresh chapter for Indian cricket, the ODI leg of the tour will also bring closure to one of its most iconic eras. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have been named in the ODI squad and will play their final international matches in Australia, with Sydney set to host their farewell appearance. Cricket Australia is even planning a special tribute to honour their legendary careers.
As one chapter closes and another begins, the sold-out MCG is proof that Indian cricket’s future — led by Gill and Abhishek — is already capturing the imagination of fans around the world.
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