Cricket found a home in various countries over the last few centuries. Every new country gave the game a new place of growth – stadiums. Big, small, round, oval, grassy, dry – they were homes of different kinds, but they nurtured the game all the same. Stadiums in India are especially important because of the sheer number of fans that flock to them for every match the country hosts. So here’s looking at the 6 best cricket stadiums in India:
# Eden GardensThis one’s an obvious choice. Eden Gardens is the gem of Indian cricket that’s absolutely beloved by devout fans. The stadium bears the long story of cricket and its growth in India since the very first test match it witnessed in 1934. Eden Gardens is almost sacred to cricket fans globally. It hasn’t been quite the luckiest for team India in the past until the likes of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble carved out the wins against Australia and Pakistan.
The ground has seen more than a fair share of scandal and conflict. Various instances of crowd violence and upheaval mark the history of the ground. It has seen everything from violence to celebration in its lifetime and the stories it holds are considered sacred for fans – stories that will undoubtedly be passed down by fans to create a new generation of admirers.
# Arun Jaitley StadiumFormerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, this central point of Delhi cricket has seen the evolution of many great additions to the Indian team. It’s undoubtedly one of the best stadiums in India with its diligent ground staff taking great care of the pitch and grounds, and the history it has had with the game.
It also happens to be one of the oldest cricket grounds in the subcontinent, having been established in 1883. Many a great feat has been achieved in these beloved grounds, most notably the 10-wicket sweep by Anil Kumble. Stalwarts such as S. Venkataraghavan made their test debuts on these grounds and racked up numbers as formidable as 8-72 and 4-80. The likes of Bedi and Prasanna also created milestone innings at the Kotla, with their historic win against Australia owing to their combined efforts to pick up 18 wickets between them.
The future of this stadium, however, hangs in the balance after a 2019 ODI between India and Sri Lanka was canceled due to a dangerous pitch. But that in no way diminishes the significance or importance of these grounds that have seen Indian cricket grow so consistently for almost a century and a half.
# Wankhede StadiumThis one holds a special place in every Indian cricket fan’s heart. The Wankhede Stadium was built after the Bombay Cricket Association (BCA) and the Cricket Council of Indian (CCI) had a dispute and thus the Brabourne Stadium was off-limits to the former. The new stadium, with a capacity of 45000, was the third built in the cricket capital of the country. These grounds have seen some phenomenal records and feats being set, including Ravi Shastri’s six 6s and Vinod Kambli’s 224 against England, which is the highest individual score by an Indian at Wankhede.
The most memorable, however, had to be the much-awaited reclaiming of the ODI World Cup after 28 long years in 2011 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni. Ravi Shastri’s commentary describing the last ball of the finals still seems to loom over the stadium. The ground’s seaside location has been known to be helpful to spinners, as has the red soil. It is a particular favourite spot for fans of the game worldwide due to the vivacious energy Mumbai fans bring to it and the unpredictable nature of the pitch and the winds.
# Narendra Modi StadiumFormerly known as Sardar Patel Stadium or Motera Stadium, the recently reconstructed and renamed Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket ground in the world, dethroning the MCG from its long-held spot. It holds 132,000 fans at a time and has quite a history of budding talent and great records. Established in 1982, the stadium was meant to boost the cricketing standard of the province.
These grounds have seen everything from Sunil Gavaskar’s 10,000th test runs and Kapil Dev’s 432nd test wicket, passing Richard Hadlee’s long held record. These grounds have been renovated and made better periodically, the most recent being the 5 year renovation period from 2015 to 2020. Fans worldwide are eager to witness more matches in one of the best cricket stadiums in India very soon.
# M. Chinnaswamy StadiumHome ground to one of the most beloved IPL teams, the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore has been instrumental in the growth of Indian players. Originally named the Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium, the grounds have been in use since 1969. It gained test status in 1974-75 and saw the debut of one of the greatest batsmen of all time, Viv Richards.
It holds about 40,000 fans and has hosted some unforgettable games in its 50+ years. The BCCI has come under fire for the ill-maintained stands in the stadium very recently after the final India v. South Africa match was washed out there and leaky roofs over the stands were spotted and broadcast via fans.
# MA Chidambaram StadiumMadras Presidency’s spiritual center of cricket, the MA Chidambaram Stadium has been in use for over a century. Established in 1916, Chepauk saw its first test match in 1933-34. The grounds have also seen India’s first test win in 1951-52 when they beat England by 8 runs and an innings to spare. Sunil Gavaskar’s 30th test century also came on these very grounds. Chepauk holds a capacity of 38,000 fans who have, over the years, witnessed some of the greatest cricket played by the country and its regional teams.