Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is having a tough week as they are set to stage five ICC T20 World Cup 2026 games at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The first big challenge is an old friend: an India game. The T20I fixture against Namibia on February 12 has seen huge demand, with tickets sold out and the demand for complimentary passes much higher than anticipated.

The second problem is more complicated.

For matches where India is not playing, DDCA officials were asked to contact schools where free entry would be provided to students in uniform, accompanied by their teacher.

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However, as it is next week when CBSE board examinations for Class 10 and 12 students are scheduled, and almost all schools are to hold their annual examinations as well, most schools have already refused the proposal.

A senior DDCA official handling the arrangements told PTI, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:

“We contacted many schools, but with CBSE and annual exams overlapping with the tournament, institutions are not willing to send their students to watch non-India games. Actually, there is no demand for tickets except for the India game. Unlike Wankhede Stadium, where Nepalese fans accounted for 17,000 spectators, Kotla will be less than half-full save for the India game."

The official added that holding the matches on weekdays has made the situation even more difficult.

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He also added:

“An empty stadium does not make for good TV viewing, with vast expanses of the galleries being an eyesore. Therefore, bringing in school children is a good idea. But we have matches on Tuesday (Feb 10), Thursday (India, Feb 12), Friday (Feb 13, UAE vs Canada), Monday (Feb 16, Afghanistan vs UAE), and Wednesday (Feb 18, SA vs UAE). If you factor out the India game, all matches are on weekdays. Also, the timings for non-India games are 11 am (3 games) and 3 pm (1 game). How do you expect young people to come? People don’t even want premium tickets for non-India games."

Even as tickets for India matches are continuing to command good interest, there seems to be a common problem facing organisers in the Indian capital during global events — keeping people interested when India isn’t playing.

Thus, balancing two poles of challenges, the DDCA faces massive demand for tickets and requests for passes with regard to India's match against Namibia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. On the other hand, it is facing difficulties attracting crowds for non-India fixtures amidst weekday scheduling and ongoing CBSE and school examinations that keep students away. It is a common factor at world tournaments that there could be tremendous enthusiasm locally for home games, but not as much elsewhere. From an organiser's perspective, the real challenge is sustaining this fan interest throughout the event, not just for India's matches.