India–Pakistan T20 World Cup Match Sends Prices Soaring

COLOMBO (News 1st); The blockbuster India–Pakistan clash of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is set to take place at Colombo’s R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, and anticipation has reached unprecedented levels.

The venue, which can accommodate a maximum of 35,000 spectators, has already reached its full capacity, with every ticket sold out through the ICC website.

In an extraordinary turn, more than 88,000 ticket requests were received for the match, far exceeding the stadium’s limit and signalling the explosive global demand for cricket’s most iconic rivalry.

The frenzy has spilled into the travel sector as well. Airfares from India to Sri Lanka have skyrocketed ahead of the game. According to checks on Air India, flights from New Delhi to Katunayake between February 13 and 16 now range between INR 76,000 and INR 100,000, a staggering spike compared to the usual INR 15,000.

Other airlines operating on the same route, including IndiGo and SriLankan Airlines, are also charging significantly elevated fares, with tickets priced between INR 60,000 and INR 111,644.

Colombo’s hotel sector too is riding the wave of unmatched demand. Room charges in premier hotels near the city have more than doubled, with many properties quoting over INR 100,000 per night, equivalent to over Rs, 340,000.

With the city bracing for a historic, high‑energy encounter, the India–Pakistan match has already left its mark, reshaping flight prices, hotel rates, and breaking all previous records for sporting demand in Sri Lanka.