Solid Turnout at Arun Jaitley Stadium as Fans Rally Behind India in 2nd Test vs West Indies

October 11, 2025

New Delhi: Despite a relatively quiet build-up, the second and final Test between India and West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium has drawn a steadily growing crowd, with fans turning up in impressive numbers over the first two days of play.

The atmosphere, initially subdued, has gradually transformed into one of anticipation and energy as India edges closer to a 2-0 series sweep.

Rising Attendance Despite Low-Key Build-Up

In contrast to earlier expectations of sparse attendance, the crowd turnout has been encouraging, signaling renewed enthusiasm for Test cricket in the capital.

With India’s bowlers set to take centre stage on Sunday, an even larger gathering is anticipated for what could be a decisive day in the match.

Earlier this year, the same venue had witnessed more than 17,000 fans braving the cold to watch Virat Kohli’s Ranji Trophy return for Delhi against Railways — an event that required extra security and gate management to accommodate the surge of spectators.

Absence of Star Names and Local Faces

The subdued buzz ahead of this Test was attributed to the absence of marquee players, both from India and the visiting West Indies squad.

With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin not part of the series, and Rishabh Pant recovering from injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Delhi fans were left without a hometown favorite in the playing XI.

Even Harshit Rana, another promising Delhi cricketer, missed out on the Test series, though he is slated to feature in the upcoming tour of Australia.

Crowd Numbers and Player Highlights

Despite these factors, the crowd response has been heartening.

• Day One: Around 11,000 fans witnessed Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century (175) and B. Sai Sudharsan’s 87, setting the tone for India’s dominance.
• Day Two: Attendance rose to 15,700 spectators, who cheered as Shubman Gill struck his *tenth Test century (129)**, and India declared at 518/5.

A Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) official credited multiple factors for the positive turnout: “With ticket prices lowered after the GST adjustment and day two being a second Saturday — a holiday for many working professionals — it made for a good turnout of 15,700 fans today.”

The official added, “This is India’s first Test in Delhi in nearly two and a half years, so the excitement among fans to watch live Test action was expected. We’re anticipating an even bigger turnout on Sunday as fans look forward to seeing India’s bowlers in action.”

Electric Energy in the Stands

The lower stands were nearly full on day two, with the middle sections also well occupied. The fans’ energy was infectious — chants of “Kohli, Kohli” soon turned into “Jaiswal, Jaiswal” and “Gill, Gill”. Every appearance of KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, or Mohammed Siraj at the nets or on the field drew enthusiastic cheers, with “Boom, boom Bumrah” and “DSP, DSP” echoing across the venue.

Capital Fans Reignite Test Spirit

Concerns over low spectator turnout — especially after empty stands were visible during the first Test in Ahmedabad’s 132,000-capacity Narendra Modi Stadium — have now been dispelled. The strong attendance in Delhi has reaffirmed the city’s passion for red-ball cricket and loyalty to Team India.

As India aims to seal a 2-0 series whitewash, a spirited crowd at the Arun Jaitley Stadium stands ready to turn Sunday into a celebration of cricket, marking a fitting weekend spectacle for the capital’s fans.