Alright guys, buckle up because figuring out IPL tickets this year was a proper ride. Honestly, started out simple enough – I just wanted to catch a couple of matches live, feel the buzz again, you know?
The Price Hunt Begins
First thing I did? Jumped straight online to check ticket prices. Searched for “IPL 2021 ticket prices” like everyone else. Boom, tons of options popped up, kinda overwhelming. Sorted through the noise, focusing on the official sources, ’cause you don’t wanna get scammed. Saw prices varying wildly depending on the match and the stadium stand. High-demand games? Forget about cheap seats. Ended up comparing prices for about three different venues I could realistically get to.
The COVID Rules Maze
Here’s where the headache really started. Knew COVID rules were a thing, obviously. Figured, “Okay, mask, maybe some app…” Boy, was I wrong. Dug into the specifics for each stadium I was looking at. And guess what? Total chaos.
- One state demanded this specific health app with pre-event registration.
- Another city insisted on a negative RT-PCR test no older than 72 hours, even if you were double-vaxxed!
- The stadium itself had its own list: mandatory masks (fine), temperature checks (expected), but then weird stuff like “no bags bigger than a small purse” which seemed COVID-unrelated but okay.
- Kept seeing phrases like “subject to change” plastered everywhere. Didn’t exactly fill me with confidence.
Tried calling the helplines to confirm stuff. Got put on hold forever. Hung up eventually.
Pulling the Trigger (Kinda)
After days of digging – seriously, felt like detective work – picked a match. Went through the ticket site… only for it to crash while I was entering my card details. Had to start again. Finally, tickets booked. Got the confirmation email. Felt a tiny surge of victory!
BUT. Immediately after, that nagging doubt hit. Triple-checked the specific COVID rules for that stadium on that date. Made sure I knew what test I needed (if any), what app to download, what time to show up for potential checks. Printed out the rules. Screenshotted them on my phone. Basically prepped like I was going into battle, not a cricket game. Honestly took the shine off the whole thing. WHAT A MESS. Got the tickets, sure, but felt like jumping through fiery hoops just to watch some cricket safely. Sheesh.
