Introduction to the Largest Cricket Stadium in the World- Narendra Modi Stadium
Cricket is much more than just a sport in India. It is not less than a religion. And every Indian is an avid follower of this Religion known as Cricket. It is a reason for celebration and joy and above all it brings people together like nothing else. Hence, when a cricket match is going on, it doesn’t matter where you are in India, best believe there is a crowd of people watching a cricket match close by. But even though you can watch cricket anywhere anytime, there are not many places that bring about the kind of atmosphere that you see in a stadium. With tens of thousands of fans wearing Indian Cricket Jerseys cheering from the stands, it is the most spectacular feeling for a cricket enthusiast. If Cricket is a religion, then a Cricket Stadium is a place of worship in India. So it makes perfect sense for India to house the World’s Largest Cricket Stadium- The Narendra Modi Stadium.
The Narendra Modi Stadium is easily one of the Best Cricket Stadiums in India. With its grandeur exceeding even the likes of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Eden Gardens, India’s premier cricket stadium situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat has had a long history. The Narendra Modi stadium wasn’t always called the way it is now, at first, it used to be called the Motera Stadium, or the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium. Now it is the most prominent part of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave in Ahmedabad. Situated on the Banks of the Sabarmati River, the Narendra Modi Stadium has hosted some of the biggest matches in Indian cricketing history and has enjoyed some very memorable moments. But before we dive into the history of the stadium, let’s look at some facts and statistics about the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Some Facts and Statistics about the Narendra Modi Stadium
| FACTS | INFO |
|---|---|
| Opened | 1982 |
| Also Known As | Motera Stadium, Sardar Patel Stadium, Gujarat Stadium |
| Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium Area | The stadium is 63 acres in size |
| Area of Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium Field | The field is 180 yards by 150 yards |
| Ends | Adani Pavilion End, GMDC End |
| Location | Ahmedabad, India |
| Time Zone | UTC +05:30 |
| Home To | Gujarat Cricket Association, Gujarat Titans |
| Floodlights | Yes |
| Head Curator | Bagira Thakur |
Now Let’s look at some Statistics across all 3 formats at the Narendra Modi Stadium (Credits: Cricbuzz)
TEST Statistics at Narendra Modi Stadium
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 15 |
| Matches won batting first | 4 |
| Matches won bowling first | 4 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 347 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 353 |
| Average 3rd innings Score | 232 |
| Average 4th innings Score | 147 |
| Highest total recorded | 760/7 (202.4 Ovs) by SL vs IND |
| Lowest total recorded | 76/10 (20 Ovs) by IND vs RSA |
| Highest score chased | 80/1 (15.3 Ovs) by IND vs ENG |
| Lowest score defended | 105/10 (38.5 Ovs) by RSA vs IND |
ODI Statistics at Narendra Modi Stadium
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 33 |
| Matches won batting first | 17 |
| Matches won bowling first | 16 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 237 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 209 |
| Highest total recorded | 365/2 (50 Ovs) by RSA vs IND |
| Lowest total recorded | 85/10 (30.1 Ovs) by ZIM vs WI |
| Highest score chased | 325/5 (47.4 Ovs) by IND vs WI |
| Lowest score defended | 196/10 (48.3 Ovs) by WI vs IND |
T20 Statistics at Narendra Modi Stadium
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 10 |
| Matches won batting first | 6 |
| Matches won bowling first | 4 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 160 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 137 |
| Highest total recorded | 234/4 (20 Ovs) by IND vs NZ |
| Lowest total recorded | 66/10 (12.1 Ovs) by NZ vs IND |
| Highest score chased | 166/3 (17.5 Ovs) by IND vs ENG |
| Lowest score defended | 107/7 (20 Ovs) by WIW vs INDW |
What makes the Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest in the World?
Narendra Modi Stadium boasts an impressively high holding capacity, something that separates it from other iconic and large cricketing stadiums in the world. The capacity of Narendra Modi Stadium is 132,000! This means the capacity of Narendra Modi Stadium is the same as that of Wankhede, Eden Gardens and Lord’s combined!
History of the Narendra Modi Stadium
The Narendra Modi Stadium was established in the Year 1982, with a holding capacity of 49,000 fans in the stadium. It was then named the Sardar Patel Stadium or the Motera Stadium. Ever since its establishment it has witnessed many memorable moments and served as a venue for both Domestic and International matches. The idea to rebuild the stadium was proposed by Narendra Modi, the then Gujarat Cricket Association President and CM of Gujarat. It took 5 years, from 2015 to 2020 to rebuild the Narendra Modi Stadium into what it is now.
Historically, the Motera pitch has always been favourable to the bowling side but over time the pitch has started to slow down making it more of an even contest. At the same time, not many Test matches have reached a conclusion here, showing that the wicket can be two-faced in Test Matches.
During the 2011 World Cup, India hosted 3 games at the Motera Stadium including India’s quarterfinal vs Australia. Also during the 2023 ODI WC, the Narendra Modi Stadium served as the premier venue for World Cup Matches. Now that we have talked about the history of the stadium let’s take a look at some of the historic moments which have taken place in the Motera Stadium.
Iconic and Memorable Matches and Moments at the Narendra Modi Stadium
1. ODI World Cup Final Heartbreak for India (2023)
Match: India vs Australia, ICC ODI World Cup Final 2023
Moment: On November 19, 2023, India faced Australia in the ICC ODI World Cup Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Despite entering the final undefeated throughout the tournament and playing on home soil, India suffered a heartbreaking defeat. India crumbled against Australia managing a low total which the Aussies, riding on the back of a Travis Head Century, chased down with ease. Thus crushing 1.5 Billion dreams in a single display of dominance.
2. Ravindra Jadeja’s Last-Ball Finish – CSK vs GT, IPL 2023 Final
Match: Chennai Super Kings vs Gujarat Titans, IPL 2023 Final
Moment: Ravindra Jadeja pulled off one of the most dramatic finishes ever in IPL History when his team needed him the most. On the night of May 29th, 2023, needing 10 runs from the last two balls, Jadeja smashed a six and then followed it up with a boundary on the final delivery to clinch the title for Chennai Super Kings. With rain forcing the match to be abandoned on 28th May and then reducing the final to a 15-over contest the day after, CSK chased down GT’s target of 171 to claim their 5th IPL title tying themselves with Mumbai Indians for the most IPL’s won.
3. India’s Dominant Win Against England (2021 Test)
Match: India vs England, 3rd Test, 2021
Moment: India defeated England within two days in the 3rd Test of the 2021 series at the newly renamed Narendra Modi Stadium. Axar Patel’s incredible bowling (11 wickets in the match) and R. Ashwin’s 400th Test wicket highlighted India’s dominance on a spinner-friendly pitch. England Batters just could not deal with Axar Patel’s wittiness with the new ball. Every time they thought the ball would turn, Axar would make the ball skid onto the batter’s pads. And when they thought it was going to skid on, it would turn and find the bat’s outside or inside edge.
4. Sachin Tendulkar’s 18,000 ODI Runs (2011 World Cup)
Match: India vs Australia, 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup Quarterfinal
Moment: Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricketer to cross 18,000 runs in ODI cricket on March 24, 2011, during India’s thrilling World Cup quarterfinal match against Australia. Tendulkar, who is often referred to as the ‘God of Cricket’ made a steady 53 off 68 balls helping India chase down Australia’s competitive total of 260 securing a Semi-Final spot for the subcontinent nation. The fact that this 18,000 ODI Runs mark was breached in a World Cup-winning campaign for India makes this iconic moment even sweeter.
5. Sunil Gavaskar’s 10,000 Test Runs (1987)
Match: India vs Pakistan, 4th Test, 1987
Moment: At the Motera Stadium, Sunil Gavaskar became the first player in cricket history to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket on March 7, 1987. The milestone was achieved by the ‘Little Master’ during the second innings of the Test. The Pioneer of Indian Cricket, Sunil Gavaskar’s legacy inspired the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Mohammad Azharuddin and many others who would in turn inspire modern greats like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. This particular figure of 10,000 Test runs has only been breached by a select few of 13 others, while Sunil Gavaskar remains one of the only two Indians on the list, followed by none other than Sachin Tendulkar.
Features of the Narendra Modi Stadium
1. Huge Area of the Stadium
The Narendra Modi Stadium is spread across 63 acres and has 4 entry points in total. This is what makes it the Largest Cricket Stadium in the World. The field size of the Narendra Modi Stadium is 180 yards * 150 yards
2. Training and Accommodation Facilities for Players and Staff
The stadium has 4 team dressing rooms with associated facilities. It also has a total of 6 indoor practice pitches and 3 outdoor practice fields, making it one of the most intricately built Stadiums in India with so many facilities. Not only that, the Motera Stadium has an indoor cricket academy with a dormitory for 40 athletes.
3. Modern And Extensive Arrangements
The Stadium features a seating capacity of 25 each in 76 corporate boxes providing the best view of the field to the Press, Media and other classified people. For the general public, it has a huge parking space that can accommodate 3,000 cars and 10,000 two-wheelers, the most across any stadium in the world. It is the first stadium in India where the ground has been fitted with LED lights, like the Dubai International Stadium.
Conclusion
The Narendra Modi Stadium stands as a testament to India’s cricketing passion and its unnerving commitment to upgrading the Sports infrastructure in the country. The World’s Largest Cricket Stadium has witnessed many iconic moments, from historic milestones to nail-biting finishes. With its state-of-the-art amenities, humongous seating capacity, and modern facilities and arrangements, it offers spectators and players alike, an unparalleled experience. passion for cricket and its commitment to advancing the sport’s infrastructure. As the largest cricket stadium in the world, it has witnessed numerous iconic moments, from historic milestones to thrilling finishes. With its state-of-the-art facilities, vast seating capacity, and modern amenities, it offers an unparalleled experience for players and spectators alike. The Narendra Modi Stadium is truly one of India’s Architectural Marvel’s and not only honours India’s cricketing legacy, but offers an international platform for some of sports most iconic events.
