Captain Rohit Sharma rules box office as international action returns to SMS Stadium | Cricket News – Times of India

JAIPUR: No Virat, no problem. What’s driving fans crazy is ‘Hitman’s’ debut in Jaipur on Wednesday as the full-time T20I India captain. The first match of the India-New Zealand series is a sold out show, and it is Rohit Sharma ruling the box office at the Sawai Mansingh (SMS) Stadium.
Rested for the T20 series, Virat Kohli, the first Asian celebrity to reach 150 million followers on Instagram, may have more following than Rohit, but the latter is a blockbuster player with great power to attract crowds into the stadium, fans feel.

“I have bought the tickets to watch Rohit. Look at his range of shots and daring game, I want to see that live at the stadium. But what makes the occasion more special is that we will get to see him leading the side wearing the India jersey as a full-time skipper,” said Sarthak Pungalia, a Class XI student.
Standing next to him in the queue for the tickets, Sambhav Sharma was quick to react with, “of course Rohit for me as well”. “In T20s who else? I hope I will get to see an entertaining innings from the new captain,” he added.
The last time the dashing India opener played here in India colours was in 2013. He lit up the stage with an unbeaten 141 off 123 balls in an ODI match against Australia. This piece of stats adds up to the build-up.
The small merchandise vendor outside the stadium confirms that it is Rohit’s jersey that has maximum demand. “Everyone asks for the captain’s t-shirt. Since other players are not in as much demand, I got more Rohit jerseys today to make sure I don’t run out of stock,” said Promod Jat. The fact that an international match is being played here after eight years has also driven the ticket sales up.
“It is huge for us that we finally get to see an international game in Jaipur. It is a great stadium where MS Dhoni has scored 183. I hope more matches come here and we get to witness more such special knocks,” said Jaipur resident Anuraj S Dhankar.

Cricket enthusiasts and those from the fraternity feel that in the Indian Premier League (IPL) they can afford to miss one match and watch another, but an international match is a rare thing that makes it a grand event.
Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) officials informed that the response for the match has been outstanding, and they are hopeful it will be a memorable game for everyone involved.
Cricket commentator Devender Kumar, who has closely observed state cricket over a decade, says international action after eight long years is a big development and a sign of more good things to follow in future. “The return of international cricket to Jaipur is great news for cricket enthusiasts and players alike after so many years of political infighting. Considering the ground conditions and practice facilities, it’s a matter of time before SMS Stadium in Jaipur is granted Test status,” he said.
Clearly, the excitement is in the air!