As the world's biggest cricket stadium in India's Ahmedabad wore a deserted look on the first day of the most-awaited International Cricket Council (ICC) Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, former cricketer Virender Sehwag suggested giving away "free tickets" to attract fans
The defending champions took on New Zealand at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday but the empty stands with few spectators shocked everyone.
The netizens trolled India for failing to draw the crowd for the tournament opener.
Sehwag came up with the "free tickets" idea, saying that there was a lack of interest in the 50-overs game.
The former Indian opener advised the World Cup 2023 organisers should give free tickets to school and college students for matches not featuring India.
Taking to Twitter, Sehwag said that better access for youngsters can boost their interest in the sport as the popularity of one-day-internationals currently staggers.
"Hopefully after office hours, there should be more people coming in. But for games not featuring Bharat, there should be free tickets for school and college children. With the fading interest in 50 over game, it will definitely help that youngsters get to experience a World Cup game and players get to play in fron[t] of a full stadium." the ex-cricketer wrote on microblogging site X.
The clash, at the world's biggest cricket stadium in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, is a rematch of the epic 2019 final when England won a tied game on boundary countback.
New Zealand won the toss and put defending champions England in to bat in the World Cup opener on Thursday with the English missing their talisman Ben Stokes due to a hip injury.
The Englishmen handed a solid 283-run target to the Black Caps.
Tom Latham leads New Zealand, who will be without regular captain Kane Williamson and pace bowler Tim Southee, both recovering from injuries.
Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is also out due to a niggle.
Additional input from AFP