Thousands of fans line up to get tickets for second India-England Test in Chennai - in pictures

15,000 spectators allowed to attend match which begins on Saturday at MA Chidambaram Stadium

Cricket fans display tickets for the second Test match between India and England at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 11, 2021. AFP

A fan shows his ticket for the second Test between India and England at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. AFP

Cricket enthusiasts queue to collect their tickets for the second Test in Chennai. AFP

Around 15,000 fans will be allowed to attend the second Test between India and England at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. AFP

A fan shows his ticket for the second Test which begins on Saturday. AFP

Hundreds of fans queue to collect their tickets for the second Test in Chennai. AFP

A fans shows his tickets for the Chennai Test. AFP

Police stand as cricket fans queue to collect their tickets for second Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. AFP

International cricket returned to India with much fanfare when England entered the MA Chidambaram Stadium for the first Test in Chennai last week.

But that fanfare was missing one key ingredient – fans at the stadium. Spectators were kept away from the first Test due to the coronavirus pandemic and absence of approval for spectators at matches.

But following a directive from the sports ministry, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association received the necessary local government approval to allow 15,000 fans at Chepauk for the second Test that begins on Saturday.

Tickets for the match were sold online but match passes had to be redeemed in person at the stadium. Thousands of fans turned up at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Thursday to collect their tickets for the Test which India need to win to avoid a series defeat after a crushing 227-run defeat in the opener.

According to the Press Trust of India, fans will be checked for Covid-19 symptoms before being allowed entry. Once inside the venue, they will have to maintain social distancing and wear face masks.