Cricket may be just an ordinary sport for people in many nations but for us cricket-crazy Indians, it’s a passion to follow and a reason to cheer our lungs out in bustling stadiums to support our beloved cricket stars. Cricket is no less than a religion in India and cricket stadiums are no less than temples for the faithful followers of this action-packed sport. To the fortune of this beloved sport’s fandom, our country boasts some of the largest and most iconic cricket stadiums in the world, each with its own unique charm and a story to tell. Join us in this blog as we take a tour of the top 10 biggest cricket stadiums in India and explore the stories that these spectacular arenas hold.
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List Of The Top 10 Largest Cricket Stadiums In India
Among the world’s leading cricket associations, clubs, and enthusiast groups, the seating capacity has been the widely accepted norm for comparing the size of different stadiums among themselves. The higher seating capacity a stadium has, the more energetic fans it can comfortably accommodate, naturally resulting in a game packed with more thrill, more cheers, more emotions, and more excitement for everyone. Similarly, when discussing cricket gear, the top 10 most expensive cricket bats are often highlighted, as they represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship and performance in the sport.
The following table illustrates a list of the top 10 best cricket stadiums in India ranked by their seating capacity. Whether you're a die-hard cricket fan or just curious about these magnificent and popular sports arenas, this journey is sure to be an informative and exciting one.
| Rank | Name | Seating Capacity | Location | Opening Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Narendra Modi Stadium | 1,32,000 | Ahmedabad | 2020 |
| 2. | Eden Gardens | 68,000 | Kolkata | 1864 |
| 3. | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium | 65,000 | Raipur | 2008 |
| 4. | Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium | 50,100 | Lucknow | 2017 |
| 5. | Greenfield International Stadium | 50,000 | Thiruvananthapuram | 2015 |
| 6. | Brabourne Stadium | 50,000 | Mumbai | 1937 |
| 7. | DY Patil Stadium | 45,300 | Navi Mumbai | 2008 |
| 8. | Barabati Stadium | 45,000 | Cuttack | 1958 |
| 9. | Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium | 44,904 | Nagpur | 2008 |
| 10. | Saifai International Cricket Stadium | 43,000 | Ettawah | 2016 |
- Narendra Modi Stadium
Previously known as the Motera Stadium (originally constructed in the year 1982), the Narendra Modi Stadium tops the list of the top 10 stadiums in Indian cricket. Not only does it offer a spectacular field size of 160 meters x 140 meters, but also the best in class amenities like an excellent clubhouse with more than 50 rooms, a podium with a 360-degree field of view for the best look at the game, and an Olympic size swimming pool along with a feature-packed gymnasium. In addition to being India’s largest cricket stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium takes the crown for being the largest in the world with its sheer size!
Memorable Match: The 3rd T20 match of the ‘New Zealand Tour of India’ was held on February 1, 2023, where India won by 168 runs.
2. Eden Gardens
Constructed by the British Administration in the 19th Century, the Eden Gardens of Kolkata is one of the oldest and most iconic cricket stadiums in the world. The historical significance of this age-old stadium is evident by its title “ The Mecca Of Indian Cricket”. Despite being more than a century old, this vintage architectural marvel doesn’t take a slight beat in terms of modern facilities and is packed with state-of-the-art tech like an advanced drainage system to ensure the grounds are ready for a thrilling game even after the harshest rains. The lush green surroundings of Eden Garden along with the intricate clock tower of the British Era add to the beauty of this stadium, providing a sense of serenity to the spectators of thrill-packed matches.
Memorable Match: India versus Australia 2001 match where India won with VVS Laxman's epic 281 runs against Australia.
3. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium
Named after the famed rebel of Chhattisgarh, the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium is best known for its beautiful location outside the stadium walls paired with top-notch amenities on the inside. The stadium is designed to fulfill the purpose of providing a spectacular viewing experience from every seat. For years, this picturesque stadium remained hidden from mainstream attention only to gain nationwide popularity by hosting IPL matches in recent years.
Memorable Match: The India versus New Zealand match was held on January 21, 2023, which resulted in India’s victory by 8 wickets.
4. Greenfield International Stadium
Situated in God’s own country, Kerala, the Greenfield International Stadium stands true to its name with expansive fields of lush green trees surrounding it. With its inauguration in 2015, it is one of the youngest stadiums on the list of the top 10 largest cricket stadiums in India. Greenfield’s location ensures that the audience gets to enjoy the best of cricket tournaments in the pleasant climate of Kerela paired with soothing tropical gushes of fresh air.
Memorable Match: Greenfield Stadium’s first international match in 2017, where India played against New Zealand in a T20.
5. Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium was built as a tribute to India’s former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and is bundled in with all the necessities of a modern-day cricket stadium. Situated in the heart of one of the most vibrant cities of the country, Lucknow, it is surrounded by landmarks and tourist destinations of extreme cultural significance. The Ekana Cricket Stadium is the home ground of Uttar Pradesh’s IPL Team, the Lucknow Super Giants.
Memorable Match: 2024 IPL match between Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings.
6. Brabourne Stadium
Ranking among popular landmarks of India’s entertainment capital, Mumbai, the Brabourne Stadium stands next among the top 10 largest cricket stadiums in India. It is one of the last structures built by the British in India and still stands with the same grace. Inspired by colonial architecture, the Brabourne Stadium has a rich legacy of hosting numerous unforgettable tournaments and matches. It offers a serene viewing experience in the middle of Mumbai’s bustling chaos making sure that the audience is nothing but indulged in the best of shots and catches Indian cricket has to offer.
Memorable Match: India versus Australia 2007 T20.
7. DY Patil Stadium
Nested between the busy roads of Navi Mumbai is the DY Patil Cricket Stadium with its well-maintained grass lawns and versatile infrastructure that can be tweaked to fit different sports. Owing to this flexibility, the DY Patil Stadium has successfully hosted games and tournaments beyond cricket, including football and tennis championships.
Memorable Match: 2024 IPL match of Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Chennai Super Kings.
8. Barabati Stadium
One of the earliest sports stadiums built in Independent India, the Barabati Stadium offers excellent facilities for the comfort and convenience of both, the players and the spectators alike. Not only it is well-known for its high power matches, but also the snacks and delicacies offered in the food court of this 20th-century structure have famed it amongst the foody-cricket enthusiasts of Cuttack. The local administration is working with utmost diligence to surround this stadium with a new emerging sports complex to hike its significance.
Memorable Match: 2006 India versus England Test match.
9. Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium
The Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, popularly known as the New VCA Stadium is among the top 10 largest cricket stadiums in India by boundary with an approximate boundary length of 750 feet. The grounds of the VCA Stadium have witnessed several iconic games of cricket, including numerous One Day Internationals and a spree of domestic matches. In an interview held during his active career, the then Indian Cricket Team Captain, Sachin Tendulkar applauded the facilities of the New VCA Stadium as easily crossing his expectations with the best support staff imaginable. Now what better compliment can a stadium receive than being acknowledged for excellence by the God of Cricket himself!
Memorable Match: The stadium hosted the 2011 World Cup match where India defeated South Africa.
10. Saifai International Cricket Stadium
The second cricket arena from Uttar Pradesh to be on the list of the top 10 biggest cricket stadiums in India, this stadium is situated in the heart of Saifai, a peaceful and culturally rich city far from the chaos of bustling metropolitans. Prominently, the Saifai Stadium has hosted the esteemed Ranji Trophy Tournaments and domestic matches and is yet to hold notable international events.
Memorable Match: 2018 Uttar Pradesh vs. Mumbai Ranji Trophy match.
India At The World Cup
Every match is a festival for cricket fans and the World Cup is the biggest among these. The excitement and thrill of every true cricket fan are at their peaks during these matches and with Team India on the grounds, the hype and energy surpass all limits to reach unthinkable heights! The table below illustrates the details of the World Cup Tournaments where India’s Boys in Blue emerged as the glorious victor and proved their mettle in international cricket.
| Year | Captain | Opposing Team | Location | Won By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Kapil Dev | West Indies | London | 43 Runs |
| 2007 | M.S. Dhoni | Pakistan | Johannesburg | 5 Runs |
| 2011 | M.S. Dhoni | Sri Lanka | Mumbai | 6 Wickets |
| 2024 | Rohit Sharma | South Africa | Barbados | 7 Runs |
Conclusion
Cricket Stadiums are not just venues of a sport in India but iconic landmarks and places of celebration for the fans of cricket. During the peak moments of a game, these arenas become the epicenter of the whole nation’s excitement with the thumping of feet, rumbling of applause and cheers rising to the point where it's hard to contain them within the walls of the stadiums. From the wide sprawling Narendra Modi Stadium to the historic Eden Gardens, each one of the top 10 biggest cricket stadiums in India holds a unique charm and a fair share of telltales and memories for millions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Which is the oldest cricket stadium in India?
Ans. The Eden Gardens Stadium, Kolkata is the oldest cricket stadium in India. It was opened in 1864.
Q2. Which stadium is famous in India?
Ans. Following is a list of the most famous stadiums in India:
- Narendra Modi Stadium (Motera Cricket Stadium)
- Eden Gardens
- Arun Jetli Stadium (Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium)
- Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
- Greenfield International Stadium
- Wankhede Stadium
- Green Park
Q3. Which is the largest cricket stadium in India?
Ans. With a seating capacity of 1,32,000, the Narendra Modi Stadium, also known as the Motera Cricket Stadium is the largest in India.
Q4. How many cricket stadiums are there in India?
Ans. The number of international cricket stadiums in India is 49.