On Wednesday (February 5), a stampede-like situation erupted outside the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack as thousands of cricket fans jostled for offline tickets to India's second ODI against England, which was scheduled for February 9 (Sunday).

Police had to use water pistols to disperse the crowd. Eager cricket fans gathered in big numbers on Tuesday night, and when offline ticket sales began at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, mayhem reigned supreme.

The online ticket sales for India vs England 2nd ODI began on February 2, however those who were unable to get through despite waiting for hours were offered the opportunity to purchase physical tickets on February 5 and 6.

Wanting to see Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma play live, people crowded the ticket windows to get the best seats. Some even slept at night near the stadium to be early for the tickets.

According to Odisha TV, "Irate locals blamed the administration for insufficient facilities for the people. The widespread chaos was attributed to poor exit management, which resulted in crowd control issues. After repeated complaints, police had to cut down the bamboo barricades to create an emergency exit."

A fan said four or five people fell ill and had to be hospitalized because they felt uneasy.

“We are requesting them for water, but there is no drinking water provision here. At least four persons had to be hospitalized, but they are not providing drinking water," said the fan.

The biggest issue was a lack of suitable entry and exit locations, which confused supporters.

When they heard this, local police, commanded by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), raced to the stadium to deal with the issue. The DCP, along with numerous platoons, were placed on high alert to watch the throng and protect public safety. Efforts are being made to improve the ticketing process to avoid future interruptions.

“We’ve sped up the ticket sale so people can exit faster. We aim to clear the area within half an hour. I ask everyone to remain patient as many have been queuing since midnight. We have also requested water supply for those waiting in line,” Cuttack DCP Jagmohan Meena said.

This ODI against England is Cuttack's first intentional match in nearly three years. Their last was a T20I against South Africa in 2022.