Fans poured into Chennai's MA Chidambaram Stadium for the second Test against England on Saturday, as cricket-crazy India welcomed live crowds for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.
As many as 15,000 fans from India's famously noisy and vibrant fanbase - the largest in the world - will be allowed to watch each of the Test's five days in the 50,000 capacity ground.
Officials were enforcing mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing and temperature checks at entry points, though that didn't stop some fans from going mask free.
India has been one of the world's most heavily-hit countries with more than 150,000 Covid-related deaths and the second-highest cases in the world, but fatalities and infections have slowed sharply and most activity is returning to normal.
India suffered a heavy 227-run defeat to England in the opener in Chennai - in an empty stadium - to trail the four-match series 1-0.
But from the first ball the home crowd made its presence known, with the socially-distanced spectators cheering every run.
With tourist travel to India still banned, only England fans living in India could come and support their team.
India won the toss and elected to bat, reaching 106-3 at lunch.
