Empty stands greet first India-Australia women’s ODI at New Chandigarh stadium in Mohali
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Equipped to seat 36,000 spectators, the PCA stadium in New Chandigarh saw only around 6,000 fans spread across stands during its first international match on Sunday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)
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The PCA cricket stadium in New Chandigarh, which recently buzzed with excitement during IPL fixtures, felt eerily quiet as it hosted the opening ODI of the women’s series between India and Australia on Sunday.
Despite the milestone of Harmanpreet Kaur’s 150th ODI, the day-night match attracted only a modest crowd, far from the packed stands seen during previous IPL events.
After hosting two successful IPL seasons in 2024 and 2025, the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) Stadium marked its international debut with this ODI. However, the 36,000-capacity venue had sparse attendance, with roughly 6,000 spectators scattered across the stands.
Those in attendance, though, savored the experience, enthusiastically supporting their favorite players despite the heat. “I’ve been waiting to see Smriti Mandhana play live since my exams ended. She scored a fifty, but I hoped for a century,” shared Sonal, a young enthusiast. Mandhana struck 58, while skipper Harmanpreet managed just 11 runs in a brief innings.
India set a target of 281/7, courtesy of half-centuries from Pratika Rawal (64) and Harleen Deol (54). However, Australia dominated the chase, reaching the total in just 44.1 overs for the loss of only two wickets.
“Shafali Verma’s absence was noticeable—her aggressive batting could have lifted India’s scoring rate early on,” remarked Simran Singh, a spectator.
Some fans admired Australia’s polished performance. “Australian players like Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning bring such professionalism to the game. It was thrilling to watch them in action,” said Amol, a local supporter.
The subdued atmosphere, devoid of the IPL’s fireworks and cheering crowds, reflected the quieter tone of the match, compounded by India’s missed catches. All eyes now turn to the second ODI on September 17, with Australia ahead 1-0, before the series finale in Delhi on September 20.
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