Ranchi, Nov. 25 -- As city prepares to host the much-awaited One Day International (ODI) between India and South Africa on November 30, an extraordinary wave of excitement has swept across the city.

Cricket enthusiasts thronged the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium on Tuesday, with thousands gathering hours before the start of ticket sales.

Despite ticket counters opening at 9 a.m., fans began arriving late on Monday night itself, hoping to secure their seats before stocks ran out. By early morning, long queues had formed around the stadium.

To manage the heavy demand, JSCA set up six ticket counters near the stadium's West Gate. Aadhaar card has been made mandatory for purchasing tickets, and each person is allowed to b...