Narendra Modi Stadium: The World’s Largest Cricket Ground

Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is the largest cricket stadium in the world by seating capacity, with room for about 132,000 spectators. It stands in the Motera area of the city and is often still called the Motera Stadium. The ground is run by the Gujarat Cricket Association and is the home of Gujarat in domestic cricket and of the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League.

From Sardar Patel Stadium to a new arena

The original stadium opened in 1982 as the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium. It hosted its first Test in 1983 and was the setting for two famous individual milestones: Sunil Gavaskar became the first batter to reach 10,000 Test runs there in 1987, and Kapil Dev passed Richard Hadlee’s record for Test wickets at the ground in 1994. The old stadium was demolished and rebuilt, and the new venue opened in February 2021 under its present name.

Pitches and conditions

The ground has a number of pitches made from different soils, which means the surface can vary from game to game. Red soil tends to offer more bounce and carry, while black soil is typically slower and aids turn. In the day-night Test between India and England in February 2021, played with a pink ball, spin dominated and the match was over within two days. In limited-overs games the large outfield and evening dew can influence tactics.

Major events

The stadium staged the opening match and the final of the 2023 men’s World Cup. In the final on 19 November 2023, Australia beat India by six wickets to win the title. It has also hosted Indian Premier League finals, including those of 2022, when Gujarat Titans won on their debut season, and 2023, when Chennai Super Kings were champions.

Facilities

The complex was designed to include floodlighting, large practice areas and training facilities alongside the main bowl. Its size has made it a natural choice for India’s biggest fixtures, though the huge stands can look sparse in games that do not draw a full crowd.