5 Largest Cricket Stadiums In India
- Narendra Modi stadium is the world’s largest cricket stadium that holds a capacity of 1,32,000 people
- The 2nd largest cricket stadium in India is the Eden Gardens, it is also the world’s 3rd largest cricket stadium
India just loves cricket. It is the most popular sports in the country and watched by millions. Do you know that 93% of all sports viewer in India are of cricket? There are more than 12 crore cricket fans in India and it is growing like no other. Playing cricket requires stadiums and you can find many cricket stadiums in India. Here we’ll take a look at the 5 largest cricket stadiums in India.
Some cricket stadiums in India are world-class. Players from around the world come here and play different forms of cricket which includes one-day matches, test matches, T20s and specially IPL. With IPL (Indian Premier League) the Indian cricket went on next level. In 2007 BCCI launched it and it now has a brand value of more than $5 billion. So let’s take a look at the India’s largest cricket stadiums.
Read More: 10 Largest Statues in India
Narendra Modi Stadium
The largest cricket stadium in India is the Narendra Modi stadium. It is also known as Motera stadium located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. So what makes it the world’s largest cricket stadium? It has a seating capacity of 1,32,000 which is highest in India and the world. In 1983 the stadium’s construction was started and after renovation in 2006 it was demolished in 2015.
What is the Cost of Narendra Modi Stadium?
In 2020, again the construction was started and at a cost of ₹800 crore it was built. Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) owns it and all forms of crickets are played here. It has 11 centre pitches on the main ground, only stadium in the world to have so. Its area is equal to 32 Olympic size football fields. Spread across 63 acres formerly it was named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Eden Gardens
After Narendra Modi stadium, India’s 2nd largest cricket stadium is the Eden Gardens. It is located in Kolkata, West Bengal. The seating capacity of Eden Gardens is 66,000, half of Narendra Modi Stadium whose seating capacity is 1,32,000. It was established in 1864 and hence it is also the oldest cricket stadium in India. Eden Gardens is the first officially built ground in India specifically for cricket.
How Eden Gardens got its name?
Kolkata is closely associated with the British Government. Before Delhi it was the capital of India during British Rule. So the name will remind you of British. The Eden Gardens is one of the oldest parks in Kolkata and this stadium was named after it. It is adjacent to the Eden Gardens and was designed in 1841. Initially it was decided to name it Auckland Circus Gardens but its makers took inspiration from Bible’s Garden of Eden and named after it.
Arun Jaitley Stadium
India’s 3rd largest cricket stadium is situated in Delhi. It is Arun Jaitley Stadium which has a seating capacity of 55,000 spectators. Way back in 1883 this stadium was established and this makes it the 2nd oldest cricket stadium in India. Formerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, the name was changed to present in memory of Arun Jaitley who was the finance minister of India. GST (Goods & Services Tax) was brought by him.
Other stadiums with 55,000 capacity
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and Greenfield International Stadium also has a capacity of 55,000. Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is in Hyderabad and spread across 15 acres of land. Bangladesh played their first ever test match in India in this stadium. After Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, the Greenfield International Stadium is in Kerala which is built on 36 acres of land leased by Kerala University.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium
With a capacity of 50,000 spectators, Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is the 4th largest cricket stadium in India. It is one of the most popular cricket stadiums in Uttar Pradesh. Initially its name was Ekana International Cricket Stadium but it got renamed in the memory of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It was opened in 2017. Home ground of a popular IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants is this stadium.
JSCA Stadium capacity is also 50,000
JSCA stands for Jharkhand State Cricket Association and its stadium is located in Ranchi. The JSCA cricket stadium also has a capacity of 50,000 spectators, similar to Atal Bihari Vajpayee stadium in Lucknow. This stadium serves as the home ground of Jharkhand cricket team. Delhi based Kothari Associates Pvt. Ltd constructed this stadium in the premises of HEC (Heavy Engineering Corporation).
Vidarbha Cricket Stadium
Which is the largest cricket stadium in India in terms of field area? It is Vidarbha cricket stadium in Nagpur, Maharashtra which has straight boundaries of 80-yards and square boundaries of 85-yards. This is longest for any cricket stadium in India. It was established in 2008 and spread across 33 acres of land. The seating capacity of Vidarbha cricket stadium is 45,000 which makes it the 5th largest cricket stadium in India.
Barabati Stadium capacity is also 45,000
In Cuttack, Odisha, there’s Barabati stadium which also has a seating capacity of 45,000. It was established in 1958 which makes it one of the oldest cricket stadiums in India. One cricket hall, in this stadium is named after Sachin Tendulkar. This stadium is also used for football matches. Several cricket tournaments including IPL were held in the Barabati stadium.
| Stadium | Location | Capacity |
| Narendra Modi stadium | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | 1,32,000 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata, West Bengal | 66,000 |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | New Delhi | 55,000 |
| Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium | Hyderabad | 55,000 |
| Greenfield International Stadium | Kerala | 55,000 |
| Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | 50,000 |
| JSCA Stadium | Ranchi, Jharkhand | 50,000 |
| Vidarbha cricket stadium | Nagpur, Maharashtra | 45,000 |
| Barabati Stadium | Cuttack, Odisha | 45,000 |
