The biggest tournament in the cricketing world is here. The first match of the ICC World Cup 2023 was held yesterday in Gujarat where the defending champions England were defeated by New Zealand by 9 wickets, making for a sensational start to the tournament.
As India gears up to host its fourth World Cup edition, let’s take a look at five of the biggest stadiums in India where the ICC World Cup 2023 matches will be played.
Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
Formerly known as the Motera Stadium, the Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of 132,000 spectators. Situated in Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Complex, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, the stadium was first built in 1983 and was first renovated in 2006. The year 2015 saw the closure of the stadium after which it was rebuilt in February 2020 with an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore.
The stadium has served as a venue for matches in the 1987, 1996, and 2011 Cricket World Cups. As of the year 2022, it has hosted a total of 14 Test matches, 27 One Day Internationals (ODIs), 6 Twenty20 (T20) matches, and 2 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.
Location: Ahmedabad
Seating capacity: 132,000
Matches: England vs New Zealand (October 5), India vs Pakistan (October 14), England vs Australia (November 4), South Africa vs Afghanistan (November 10), Final World Cup match (November 19).
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Nesting in the midst of the bustling city of Kolkata, the Eden Gardens stadium is the oldest and second-largest cricket stadium in India and the third-largest in the world.
On one occasion, former Australian captain Steve Waugh likened it to the “Lord’s of the subcontinent,” drawing a parallel to the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. Established in 1864, this stadium boasts a seating capacity of 68,000 spectators. It has earned a reputation for hosting historic matches, such as VVS Laxman’s unforgettable 281 against Australia in 2001 and the thrilling T20 World Cup final showdown between West Indies and England in 2016.
Location: Kolkata
Seating capacity: 68,000
Matches: Netherlands vs Bangladesh (October 28), Pakistan vs Bangladesh (October 31), India vs South Africa (November 5), England vs Pakistan (November 11), second semi-finals (November 16).
Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi
Established in 1883 as the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, this stadium was named after nearby Kotla Fort and is located on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi. Known for being the second oldest operational international cricket stadium in India after Eden Gardens, it has hosted 34 Test matches, 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs), and 6 T20 Internationals (T20Is), as of October 25, 2019.
The venue witnessed Sachin Tendulkar’s record-breaking 35th Test century.
Location: New Delhi
Seating capacity: 55,000
Matches: South Africa vs Sri Lanka (October 7), India vs Afghanistan (October 11), England vs Afghanistan (October 15), Australia vs Netherlands (October 25), Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (November 6).
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Named after the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, this stadium is situated in Hyderabad, Telangana. With a seating capacity of 55,000, the stadium extends across 16 acres of land.
As of 18 January 2023, it has hosted 5 Tests, 7 ODIs, and 3 T20Is. It also hosted the opener and final of the 2017 Indian Premier League, and also the final of the 2019 Indian Premier League.
Location: Hyderabad
Seating capacity: 55,000
Matches: Pakistan vs Netherlands (October 6), New Zealand vs Netherlands (October 9), Pakistan vs Sri Lanka (October 10).
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Situated in Lucknow, the stadium is generally known as Ekana Cricket Stadium. It boasts the longest straight boundaries among all cricket stadiums in India. It serves as the home ground for the Uttar Pradesh cricket team and also serves as the home venue for the IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. In 2019, the Afghanistan cricket team used it as their home ground.
Location: Lucknow
Seating capacity: 50,000
Matches: Australia vs South Africa (October 12), Australia vs Sri Lanka (October 16), Netherlands vs Sri Lanka (October 21), India vs England (October 29), Netherlands vs Afghanistan (November 3).