Cricket Stadium Venues in India

As per the latest records that were furnished in 2021, India has a total number of 52 cricket grounds that are accredited as international venues by the ICC. This number is the maximum when we compare it with the number of cricket fields in England. There are 29 English cricket grounds altogether.

The cricket stadium venues in India have seating capacities of not less than 15,000. Many grounds are used for domestic league tournaments and practice turf of national and state-level cricket teams. We will briefly read about the key features of cricket stadiums across the country.

Stadium Names 

  • Eden Gardens: This cricket stadium is located in Kolkata. It is the oldest cricketing establishment in India and was built in 1864. It has the second-largest crowd holding capacity. In 1987, the first international one-day international was played on this ground between India and Pakistan. In the same year, this stadium hosted the ICC world cup final match as well. The ground is signified as the ‘Mecca of cricket in India’. 
  • Narendra Modi Stadium (Sardar Vallabhbhai Sports Enclave): Recently, the stadium went under renovation to increase its capacity which has now added up to 132,000 spectators. It reopened in February 2020. The new ground witnessed its first tie between India and England in the form of a T20 international. The stadium conducted the historic tour event in honor of the U. S. President Donald Trump on 25th February 2020. This is the largest cricket field in the world. 
  • Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: This cricket stadium is situated in the beautiful landscape of Uppal in Telangana.  The construction of this stadium was funded by Visaka Industries.At present, it is the home ground of the Hyderabad Ranji team. It hosted its first international ODI match in 2005. It has a capacity of 55,000.
  • M. Chinnaswamy Stadium: This stadium is a popular option for regulating international cricket series and domestic fixtures. It is located in Bengaluru. The stadium’s pomp and the cheering audience are ideal for hosting music concerts and cultural shows. Its ‘Go Green’ resolution is revolutionary as the stadium uses only solar panels to generate the required electricity. The stadium has almost 40,000 housing spaces. 
  • Wankhede Stadium: This cricket stadium hosted its first test series in 1974 when the West Indies men’s cricket team toured India. The Wankhede now hosts games with limited seating of 33,000 after it was renovated back in 2011. The most significant match on this ground was played between India and Sri Lanka. India lifted the world cup after defeating its visitors. 
  • M. A. Chidambaram Stadium: During matches, we often hear the commentators mention this ground as the Chepauk Stadium. The stadium is located close to the Marina beach.This historic ground is the second oldest of its kind in India. The ground records a Test match tie result between India and Australia which is historic in the context of the game. India defeated England in a test match for the very first time in this stadium. 

List of Stadiums in Delhi

The capital city of India – New Delhi is readily recognized as a sports hub by the people outside India. This is because of the extensive sports facilities and engagement of modern athletic complexes within the national capital territory. Here is a list of stadiums in Delhi:

  • Jawaharlal Nehru Enclave: This stadium can host multiple sporting events. Normally, national and domestic football matches are organized here apart from the track and field contests. It has been constructed as per the guidelines laid out by FIFA. This stadium includes the Headquarters of SAI. 
  • Indira Gandhi Indoor Complex: This modern age arena is located in New Delhi’s eastern zone. It falls under the category of big indoor sports stadiums across Asia. It is the home turf of the national tennis team – Indian Aces. The indoor stadium also hosts the games of futsal competitions. 
  • Dr. Ambedkar Stadium: This is another international-level stadium located in New Delhi. In 2007, the famous Nehru Cup was held in this stadium after the successful renovation of the floodlights. 
  • Dhyan Chand Stadium: This hockey stadium is named after the Indian legend of hockey – Major Dhyan Chand. It witnessed the clashes of the first-ever Asian Games back in 1951. The Sports Authority of India maintains the turf. India Gate is situated very close to this stadium. 
  • Talkatora Stadium: It is a multipurpose indoor stadium. It is owned and maintained by the Municipal Corporation of New Delhi. The stadium comes with a competition ring and a seating capacity of about 3000 people. 

Conclusion 

The presence of so many stadiums across the country resonates with the people’s love of sports. The Government and the private sports committees continuously try to develop the facilities that are dished out to the athletes. Thus many new stadiums are also undergoing construction at this moment.