Fact check: Are soft drink bottles refilled at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium after T20 World Cup clash

New Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium has landed in controversy after a video from the T20 World Cup 2026 went viral on social media. The clip appears to show stadium vendors or staff collecting leftover Thums Up from used cups and pouring it back into small plastic bottles.

DDCA Video

In the video, a few workers can be seen gathering partially consumed soft drinks, likely left behind or returned by spectators, into a container before transferring the liquid into Thums Up bottles. The person recording the clip is heard saying in Hindi that the leftover soda is being refilled into bottles and could be sold again during the next match, calling it a “scam” and questioning the practice.

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DDCA on Viral Video

Following the uproar, the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) issued a clarification. The association said the activity shown in the video was carried out by an authorised concessionaire, as per event guidelines. According to DDCA, Coca-Cola products were being served in line with approved commercial agreements and operational standards.

The DDCA further stated that strict hygiene rules are followed at all its venues. It explained that in this particular case, the vendor was separating wet and dry waste and poured the remaining beverage back into bottles only as part of the disposal process. The bottles, it added, were later collected, sorted and handled according to the stadium’s waste management and recycling policy.

India vs Namibia T20 World Cup clash in New Delhi

Notably, hosts India are playing their second T20 World Cup 2026 group stage clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi where Namibia won the toss and opted to bowl against Abhishek Sharma-less Men in Blue. 

India vs Namibia playing XIs

India (Playing XI): Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Namibia (Playing XI): Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus(c), JJ Smit, Zane Green(w), Ruben Trumpelmann, Malan Kruger, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo