Dharamshala:
Cricket fever has gripped Himachal Pradesh as all on-counter tickets for the much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants on May 4 have officially been sold out.
The match, set to take place at the scenic Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium in Dharamshala, has drawn overwhelming response from fans despite looming weather concerns.
HPCA secretary Avnish Parmar confirmed that all offline tickets had been sold out. “All physical ticket counters are now closed as offline tickets have been completely sold. Only online tickets are available for purchase,” he said.
Rain casts shadow over match day plans
While fans are buzzing with excitement ahead of the high-profile faceoff, organisers are keeping a close eye on the weather.
Intermittent rain has been reported across parts of Himachal Pradesh and the forecast suggests adverse weather conditions may persist until May 7.
With Dharamshala’s reputation for sudden weather shifts, officials remain cautiously optimistic about holding the game without interruptions.
Match preparations, including security and crowd management, are in full swing. Kangra SP Shalini Agnihotri said only one-way traffic movement would be allowed in almost all parts of the city.
Dharamshala tickets in high demand despite weather woes
The demand for tickets has been electric since sales began earlier this week. Offline ticket sales kicked off on April 30 with a base price of Rs 1,500, attracting long queues at counters. All such tickets were snapped up within two days.
Online sales, which opened on April 28, also saw a rapid response. Within the first 45 minutes, five stands priced at Rs 1,200 and Rs 1,500 were completely booked.
The Rs 1,200 tickets for West Stand-3—this season’s most affordable option—sold out within just 30 minutes. Higher-tier seats priced at Rs 3,500 and Rs 6,000 are still available online, though in limited quantity.
This year, the Punjab Kings have made efforts to make the match experience more accessible to fans by reducing the entry-level ticket price from Rs 1,500 last season to Rs 1,200, albeit for a single stand.
Punjab Kings eye home advantage in Dharamshala
The picturesque HPCA stadium, considered Punjab Kings’ second home after Mohali, is set to host its first IPL game of the 2025 season.
The franchise hopes to capitalise on the strong local turnout and build momentum in their campaign against the Lucknow Super Giants.
With the stands already sold out offline and high traffic on digital ticketing platforms, all eyes are now on the skies above Dharamshala.
Sunil Chadha
