Asia Cup 2025 struggles with low attendance as cricket fans miss Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma

Originally posted on Crictoday | By V.M.Suriya Narayanan | Last updated Sep 12, 2025 9:48 AM ET

The ongoing Asia Cup 2025 has failed to attract the attention with fans staying away from the venues. Tickets for India vs Pakistan match have not been sold as expected. Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra believes the absence of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma is the primary reason for this.

Cricket fans in the UAE are known for their enthusiasm, whether it’s for the IPL or international tournaments. According to Chopra, attendance has been unusually low this time. He directly linked this drop in numbers to the absence of Rohit and Virat.

“Even when Virat played in Ranji, the stadium was nearly full. His absence is a major factor behind the low ticket sales, “Aakash Chopra said.

Chopra pointed out that the lack of spectators isn’t due to high ticket prices or match timings. He feels that if Rohit and Virat were playing, the crowd would have shown interest. He said that where 5,000 people might have shown up before, now 10,000 to 15,000 would attend just to watch these two stars.

Cricket is not only a game of bat and ball, but also about the emotional connection fans have with the players. Stars like Virat and Rohit are rarely seen live, and when they are missing, fan interest tends to drop. This directly impacts ticket sales, attendance, and the overall match atmosphere.

Despite the absence of these two cricketing giants, the India vs Pakistan is likely to break viewership records. Fans are still hopeful of an exciting contest, even without these veterans on the field.

This article first appeared on Crictoday and was syndicated with permission.

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