What is the greatest method to appreciate a cricket match’s strange experience? It is much easier to watch a cricket match live in a cricket stadium in a country like India, where there are a total of 53 international cricket stadiums as well as some of India’s biggest cricket stadiums.
Now, imagine for a second that you have the opportunity to witness a match between India and Australia. Where would you go? A stadium with a seating capacity of 20–30k spectators or a stadium with a seating capacity of 80–100k spectators? Obviously, you will choose the second option.
Biggest Cricket Stadium In India
A cricket ground’s seating capacity is critical in providing fans with a memorable experience. You may be interested in finding out about some of India’s largest cricket stadiums. As a result, let us examine the largest cricket ground in India based on seating capacity rather than boundary length.
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Narendra Modi Stadium
It is not only India’s largest cricket stadium but also the world’s largest. Previously known as Motera Stadium, it was renamed in honour of current Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The stadium was erected over 5 years of hard labour with an estimated budget of over 100 million dollars, ranking first in the list of biggest cricket grounds in india.
The Narendra Modi stadium not only has the biggest spectator capacity of 1.32 lakh people, but it also features excellent structural stands with captivating colours. Furthermore, the first international event on this field was a day-night test game between India and England on February 24, 2021.
Also, the IPL 2023 final and World Cup 2023 Final were played in Narendra Modi Stadium.
Eden Gardens
Eden Gardens is yet another stadium where you should not pass up the opportunity to watch a cricket match. This stadium, located in Kolkata, has a total seating capacity of 66,000 spectators. The governor-general, Lord Auckland, built the stadium in 1864 and named it after his two Eden sisters. As a result, it is ranked second in the list of biggest cricket stadiums in India.
Furthermore, only Eden Gardens has the best drainage facility and ground staff among all Indian cricket grounds. It is stated that if it rains in Eden Gardens stadium, it only takes 10-15 minutes to get it ready for play. It is also renowned as the oldest cricket ground in India.
Eden Gardens is usually the first choice for BCCI when it comes to high-voltage matches. Whether it’s the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka or the 2016 T20 World Cup final between England and WI. Furthermore, the first international match was staged between India and England as a test game.
Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium
In my opinion, this is one of India’s most undervalued cricket grounds, as it does not receive as much attention as others, despite having a magnificent stadium with a capacity of 65,000 people for every game. If you look closely at the building of this stadium, you will notice that it is similar to Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium.
This stadium’s official name is Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, and it is located in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh. It was completed in 2008 at a cost of 145 crore. It is also India’s third-largest cricket field, with the first international match between India and New Zealand taking place there in January 2023.
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, located in Hyderabad, is one of the best cricket grounds in South India, ranking fourth among the top 10 biggest cricket stadiums in India, with a capacity of 55,000 spectators. It was founded exactly 20 years ago in 2003 by former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy.
However, despite having such a fine location for international cricket, Rajiv Gandhi Stadium has not hosted enough Indian international games, yet the BCCI has recently begun to value this facility since it hosted its first-ever World Cup match in October 2023. It is also the home venue of the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad.
DY Patil Stadium
The DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai is India’s fifth largest cricket ground, having been erected in 2008 when the first IPL season began. It is a multi-purpose stadium that hosts football games and music concerts in addition to cricket. This huge cricket pitch with a capacity of 55,000 spectators was built to host matches for the IPL club Mumbai Indians.
However, in terms of holding a sufficient number of international games every year, DY Patil Stadium is equivalent to Raipur International Cricket Ground. Furthermore, Mumbai already possesses Wankhede Stadium, which is regarded as the world’s most famous stadium. As a result, it becomes difficult for DY Patil Ground to hold enough international matches.
Greenfield International Stadium
Kerala may be one of the smallest states in the country, but it is far ahead when it comes to generating major players and cricket grounds, as it has the sixth largest cricket stadium in India, with a maximum seating capacity of 55,000 people. The stadium, which is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was built at a cost of 390 crores.
Previously, in January 2023, it was given the opportunity to host an ODI game between India and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the ground at Greenfield International Stadium is ideal for both batsmen and bowlers. It was the same pitch where India suffered its worst ODI defeat, bowling out the entire Sri Lankan team for 73 runs while chasing 317.
Ekana Cricket Stadium
Another stunning ground, located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, with a very large budget of INR 360 Crores, was laid down in 2014 by private and public ownership between Ekana Sports City and Lucknow Development Authority, with a spectator capacity of 50,000 people. As a result, it is the seventh-largest cricket venue in India.
When it comes to hosting international matches, Ekana Cricket Stadium is one of the stadiums that has been given the opportunity to host ODI World Cup matches. There will be six World Cup games in which teams such as Australia, South Africa, India, and New Zealand will compete. It is also the home ground of the IPL franchise ‘Lucknow Supergiants’.
JSCA International Stadium Complex
The JSCA International Stadium Complex, located in Ranchi, India’s capital city, serves as a tribute to the state’s growing significance in the world of cricket. This sophisticated sporting complex, named after the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), was completed in 2011 and has since become a popular location for both domestic and international cricket events.
The stadium, which seats 50,000 people, is also renowned as the home field of India’s famous captain, MS. Dhoni. One interesting element that was kept in mind throughout the construction of this ground was that not even a single shadow should appear on all 5 pitches before 4:30 PM to avoid any form of distraction for players during the game.
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium
Some of the greatest cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, and Shane Warne, have lauded the Vidarbha Cricket Association venue for its large boundaries, with the square boundary of the VCA stadium measuring 84 metres and the straight boundary at 80 metres. The stadium can accommodate 45,000 people to watch live cricket play.
Furthermore, most bowlers would prefer to bowl here because it allows them to bowl more freely. This massive VCA stadium in Nagpur, Maharashtra, has proven a famous location for test matches over the years. The last international cricket played at the VCA venue will be a five-day test match between India and Australia in February 2023.
Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium
Our list of the Biggest cricket stadiums in India concludes with the ‘Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium,’ now known as Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium, which was erected in 1882 and is located in India’s capital, Delhi. The stadium is managed by the Delhi & District Cricket Association and plays an important role in organising Indian cricket team white ball matches.
In 2017, Arun Jaitley Stadium received harsh criticism after a test match was suspended for 15 minutes due to significant haze on the pitch caused by Delhi’s high pollution. Many Sri Lankan players were observed vomiting due to a shortage of oxygen and heavy pollution; the same thing happened to Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami.
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This pitch, however, holds a particular place in the hearts of the people of Delhi because it is the only venue where they can see their hometown boy Virat Kohli in action during international cricket as well as IPL games.
