Cricket is one of the most popular sports in the world, especially in countries like India, Australia, England, Pakistan and South Africa. Cricket fans love watching their favorite teams play in stadiums that accommodate thousands of spectators and create a lively atmosphere. In this blog post, we will look at the top 10 biggest cricket stadiums in the world by capacity and learn some interesting facts about them.
10. Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, India
Ekana Cricket Stadium, officially named Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, is an international cricket stadium located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Established in 2017, it is the fifth largest cricket stadium in India with a seating capacity of 50,000. The stadium features modern facilities including floodlights for day-night matches, spacious dressing rooms, a sports academy, VIP lounges, media and broadcasting rooms, and an art gallery showcasing the journey of Indian cricket. Its circular seating design ensures unobstructed views for spectators, complemented by a large LED screen for live updates.
The stadium is home to the Uttar Pradesh cricket team and IPL franchise Lucknow Super Giants. It hosted its first international match in November 2018, marking the return of international cricket to Lucknow after 24 years. The venue is known for its well-maintained green outfield, excellent playing conditions, and the longest straight boundaries among Indian stadiums. Ekana has hosted multiple international matches, including T20Is, ODIs, and a Test match, and it remains an important hub for cricket in India.
8. Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, Australia
The Adelaide Oval is another iconic cricket stadium in Australia that has hosted matches since 1871. It has a capacity of 53,500 and is the home ground of the South Australia cricket team and the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League. The Adelaide Oval is known for its picturesque setting, with the River Torrens and St Peter’s Cathedral in the background. It is also famous for hosting the first-ever day-night Test match in 2015 between Australia and New Zealand.
7. Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, India
The Greenfield International Stadium is one of the newest cricket stadiums in the world, having been inaugurated in 2017. It has a capacity of 55,000 and is the first cricket stadium in India to be built on a public-private partnership model. The stadium is located in Kerala, a state known for its scenic beauty and cultural diversity. The stadium has hosted two international matches so far, both involving India and the West Indies.
6. Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad, India
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is the principal cricket stadium in Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana state in India. It has a capacity of 55,000 and is the home ground of the Hyderabad cricket team and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. The stadium was named after Rajiv Gandhi, a former prime minister of India who was assassinated in 1991. The stadium has hosted several high-profile matches, including the 2017 IPL final and the 2019 World Cup match between India and Australia.
5. Optus Stadium (also known as Perth Stadium) in Perth, Australia
The Optus Stadium is a state-of-the-art stadium that opened in 2018 in Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It has a capacity of 60,000 and is the home ground of the Western Australia cricket team and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. The stadium is also used for other sports like Australian rules football, rugby union, and soccer. The stadium has hosted four international cricket matches so far, including the second Test match between Australia and India in 2018.
4. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur, India
The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium is a cricket stadium located in Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh state in India. It has a capacity of 65,000 and is the home ground of the Chhattisgarh cricket team and the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. The stadium was named after Veer Narayan Singh, a freedom fighter who led a rebellion against British rule in 1857. The stadium has hosted six international matches so far, all involving Afghanistan as one of the teams.
3. Eden Gardens, Kolkata, India
Eden Gardens is one of the most famous and oldest cricket stadiums in the world, having been established in 1864. It has a capacity of 66,000 and is the home ground of the Bengal cricket team and the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League. Eden Gardens is known for its passionate and knowledgeable crowd, who cheer and boo many cricket legends over the years. The stadium has hosted many historic matches, such as the 1987 World Cup final, the 2016 World T20 final, and the first-ever pink-ball Test in India.
2. Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is the largest and most iconic cricket stadium in Australia, having been founded in 1853. It has a capacity of 100,024 and is the home ground of the Victoria cricket team and the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League. The MCG is also used for other sports like Australian rules football, rugby league, and soccer. The MCG has hosted many memorable matches, such as the first-ever Test match in 1877, the first-ever One Day International in 1971, and the 2015 World Cup final.
1. Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India
The Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket stadium in the world by capacity, having been renovated and expanded in 2020. It has a capacity of 132,000 and is the home ground of the Gujarat cricket team and the Ahmedabad franchise in the Indian Premier League. The stadium was previously known as Motera Stadium but was renamed after Narendra Modi, the current prime minister of India and a former chief minister of Gujarat. The stadium has hosted several memorable matches, including the 2011 World Cup quarter-final between India and Australia and the third Test match between India and England in 2021.