Whether you are a cricket lover or just plagued by curiosity, let’s run you through the biggest cricket stadium in the world that continues to thrill us with its massive size and great amenities.
Cricket is more than just a game in the Indian subcontinent. Think of it as a uniting force that brings people from different backgrounds and occupations together. No matter who you are or where you are, it is easy to run into cricket conversations. People arguing over strategies, performances, and other cricketing aspects are commonplace with everyone involved having his/her own take.
Such is the popularity of the sport that we celebrate all things cricket, from those who play it to the places where it is played. Speaking of cricket grounds, they are a silent witness to cricketing action that etches into fans’ minds forever. Every century, every fiery spell, and every win and every defeat in cricket history is associated with the ground. For example, India’s 1983 World Cup win and Lords are mentioned in the same breath, and so are VVS Laxman’s 281-run-knock and Eden Gardens.
Biggest Cricket Stadium in The World
Wondering which is the biggest cricket stadium in the world? If yes, then you have to be a bit more specific. You can classify the size of a cricket ground on two parameters. One is its seating capacity and the other is its boundary size. While seating capacity means how many spectators can a ground accommodate at a given time, the boundary size refers to how far the boundary is from the pitch.
Guess what? The biggest stadium in the world by seating capacity doesn’t feature among the top 5 biggest cricket stadiums by boundary. If that has piqued your curiosity, read on. Here is a list of the top 10 biggest cricket stadiums in the world by boundary as well as by spectator capacity.
Biggest Cricket Stadium in The World By Seating
Spoiler Alert: A majority of the largest grounds by seating capacity are either in India or Australia.
1. Biggest Cricket Stadium in World: Motera Cricket Stadium, Gujarat
- Area: 63 acres
- Seating Capacity: 132,000
- Alternate Name: Motera Stadium
Formerly Sardar Patel Stadium, Narendra Modi Stadium tops our list. With a seating capacity of a staggering 132,000, it is easy to understand why. Located between 23.0883 Latitude and 72.5918 Longitude, the stadium finds itself in the heart of Ahmedabad with the Sabarmati River flowing by.
As the name says, the Narendra Modi Stadium, as we know it today, is a vision of Sh. Narendra Modi. He, as a Chief Minister of Gujarat, proposed a complete reconstruction of the ground. Built in 1982, the former structure was replaced by a state-of-the-art facility in 2021, accounting for ₹800 crores.
Amenities:
| 1 Indoor Cricket Academy | 1 Olympic-size swimming pool | 3 Practice Grounds |
| 4 Team Dressing Rooms | 76 Corporate Boxes | Modern Club Facilities |
POPULOUS, an Australian sports architecture firm, provided the designs while Larsen & Toubro took care of the construction part. The precast concrete segments not only gave the stadium structural integrity but also ensured that the construction was completed quickly, within 4 years. Thanks to a clever design, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the game from the seating level.
From Sunil Gavaskar becoming the first-ever batsman to score 10,000 Test runs in 1987 to Kapil Dev getting his record-breaking 432nd Test wicket in 1995, the Motera Cricket Stadium has seen it all and more. The arena also has the distinction of hosting the iconic, NAMASTE TRUMP event on 24 February 2020. The Gujarat Cricket Association owns and manages this historic ground.
- Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
- Coordinates: 23.092°N, 72.597°E
- Home Teams: Team India (Men & Women), Gujarat Cricket Team, Gujarat Titans
2. Biggest Cricket Stadium in World: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia
- Seating Capacity: 100,024
- Alternate Name: MCG & G
Known as MCG or simply ‘G,’ Melbourne Cricket Ground has a massive structure and an impressive history. Its ability to accommodate 100,024 spectators makes it the second-biggest cricket stadium in world, the biggest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, and the world’s 11th-biggest stadium.
The stadium has been around since 1853 and has the distinction of being the venue for multiple VFL/AFL Grand Finals, the World Cup final (1992), the Olympics (1956), the Commonwealth Games (2006), numerous blockbuster music concerts, and other events. How’s that for a pedigree?
Amenities:
| 1 Gallery of Sport | 2 Giant Electronic Scoreboards |
| 109 Executive Suites | Several Corporate and Media Facilities |
The stadium holds a special place for cricket fans as well, being the venue for the first-ever Test match (1877) and the first-ever One Day International match (1971). It even witnessed Shaun Tait bowling the 3rd fastest delivery ever (160.7 km/h) on 5 February 2010 against Pakistan. As a side note, MCG was the first to adopt super soppers and houses the highest light tower. Read More.
- Coordinates: 37°49′11.76″S 144°59′0.38″E
- Location: Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria
- Home Teams: Australia, Victoria, Melbourne Stars
3. Biggest Cricket Stadium in World: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
- Area: 50 acres
- Seating Capacity: 68000
- Alternate Name: The Lord’s of Asia
When it comes to the most prestigious cricket ground in India, it’s hard to look beyond Eden Gardens, Kolkata. With a capacity to seat 68000 people, it is India’s second biggest and the world’s third biggest cricket ground. Spread across 50 acres, the stadium was the first sporting arena in the subcontinent built specifically for cricket in 1864. No wonder, they often call it the “Lord’s of Asia.”
Each time, a game of cricket unfolds here, the cheering crowds rally behind their team, creating a euphoria like no other. Apart from hosting 15 Cricket World Cup matches and 4 finals, the stadium has seen some historic cricketing action. Be it the Laxman-Dravid partnership in 2001 that changed the course of Indian cricket, or India’s first-ever day/night test match in 2019, it has seen it all.
Eden Gardens has undergone several renovations, notably in 1987 and 2011. The management plans to increase its seating capacity to 100,000 in the years to come. Surprisingly, the Eastern Command of the Indian Army owns the stadium while the Bengal Cricket Association manages it. Read More.
- Coordinates: 22.5646° N, 88.3433° E
- Location: Maidan, B.B.D. Bagh, Kolkata, West Bengal 700021
- Home Teams: Team India, Kolkata Knight Riders, Indian Football Team
4. Biggest Cricket Stadium in World: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium, Raipur
- Seating Capacity: 65000
Unless you are a die-hard Delhi Capitals fan, you might never have heard about Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium, Raipur. But it exists, and that too as Central India’s biggest, India’s 3rd, and the world’s 4th biggest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 65000. Accounting for INR 145 Crores, the stadium has been there since 2008 and is yet to host a test and a second ODI. The only ODI played here on 21 Jan 2023 involved India and New Zealand.
Despite less international exposure, the stadium has been a venue for the Road Safety World Series, Celebrity Cricket League, and IPL matches. The stadium features a state-of-the-art sports arena, corporate boxes, and a partial roof to keep you safe from direct sun. No wonder, the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Viv Richards, Kapil Dev, and Anil Kumble speak highly of the ground and its facilities. As far as the name is concerned, it comes from the local hero of the 1857 War of Indian Independence.
- Coordinates: 21.2034° N, 81.8239° E
- Location: Sector 3, Parsada-3, Atal Nagar-Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh 492101
- Home Teams: Team India, Chhatisgarh Cricket team, Delhi Capitals
5. Biggest Cricket Stadium in World: Perth (WACA) Stadium, Australia
- Seating Capacity: 61,266
- Alternate Name: WACA, Optus Stadium
Fast bowlers love it and batsmen hate it. It’s Perth Cricket Stadium for you. The ground’s hard pitch favors bowlers who can hit the deck hard and make life miserable for batsmen, especially from the subcontinent. However, the ground walks into our list of the biggest cricket stadium in the world for its massive capacity of 61,266, which increases to 70,000 for music concerts and other such events.
Managed by the Western Australia Cricket Association, the stadium supports Rugby, Australian Rules Football, and music concerts, besides cricket. It has been there since 1890 and underwent a major facelift in 2018, costing around $700 million. You can expect world-class amenities here, such as 50+ food outlets, two 340 m2 TV screens, 650 CCTV cameras, and 1600+ toilets. Read More.
Feel free to walk around the ground’s roof for some spectacular views of the stadium and beyond.
- Coordinates: 31°57′4″S 115°53′20.5″E
- Location: Burswood, Western Australia
- Home Teams: Team Australia, Western Australia Cricket Team & Perth Scorchers
6. Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
- Area: 16 acres
- Seating Capacity: 55,000
- Alternate Name: Visaka Stadium, Hyderabad Stadium
Welcome to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad where 55,000 spectators can sit and enjoy a good game of cricket. That’s why we rank it the 6th biggest cricket stadium in the world and the 4th biggest in India. Contrary to the size, the stadium’s history is short. On the last count, it has been the venue for just 15 international contests, including 5 Tests, 7 ODIs, and 3 T20Is.
On the upside, the stadium was the venue for two IPL finales (2017 and 2019) and one IPL opener (2017). It was here Bangladesh played its first-ever test match in India on their 2017 tour. While the ground has seen some great spells from Ashwin and Umesh Yadav, we best remember it for Alzarri Joseph’s magnificent spell of 6 for 12. That’s the best spell in IPL history to date. Read More.
- Coordinates: 17°24′23″N 78°33′01″E
- Location: RGI Stadium Rd, Uppal, Hyderabad, Telangana 500039
- Home Ground: Team India, Hyderabad cricket team, & Sunrisers Hyderabad
7. DY Patil Stadium
- Seating Capacity: 55,000
The next entry is from Mumbai but it isn’t the Wankhede Stadium or Brabourne Stadium. To your surprise, it’s the DY Patil Stadium, which makes a strong case with a seating capacity of around 55000. That’s about twenty thousand more than Wankhede Stadium. As the name suggests, the stadium’s ownership rests with a local politician, Dnyandeo Yashwantrao (DY) Patil.
Located in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, the stadium usually hosts cricket but also serves as a venue for football, music concerts, and cultural and entertainment events. It even served as the home ground for Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers, and Pune Warriors at different points in time. Even two IPL finals, 2008 and 2010, happened here. Presently, it hosts the Women’s Premier League.
- Coordinates: 19°2′31″N 73°1′36″E
- Location: Nerul, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
- Home Ground: Team India
8. Greenfield International Stadium
- Area: 36 acres
- Seating Capacity: 50,000
- Alternate Name: The Sports Hub, Trivandrum International Stadium
Spread across 36 acres, Greenfield International Stadium can seat 50,000 people, making it the 8th world’s biggest cricket stadium. Previously Trivandrum International Stadium, it was completed on 26 January 2015 at a cost of ₹390 crore (US$49 million). The arena is associated with cricket but can also treat you to some riveting football action. Rather, Greenfield International Stadium is one of the select few multi-purpose stadiums to comply with both FIFA as well as ICC guidelines.
The ground has four zones, one for cricket, one for football, one for food outlets, and one for squash, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, and swimming. The cricket and football zones come replete with a players’ lounge, gym, media center, and stock room. To its credit, it is India’s first fully eco-friendly stadium and the first outdoor stadium built on DBOT (design, build, operate, and transfer) model.
- Coordinates: 8.5718° N, 76.8853° E
- Location: Opposite Kerala University Campus, Karyavattom, Thiruvananthapuram
- Home Teams: Team India, Kerala cricket team
9. Adelaide Oval, Australia
- Seating Capacity: 53,500
Another arena from ‘Down Under,’ Adelaide Oval is a historic cricket stadium that allows you to be a part of a 53,500-strong crowd of cheering fans. However, it is not to be mistaken with ‘The Oval,’ another historical ground in Surrey, England, which hosted the first-ever international test match. As the name says, Adelaide Oval finds itself in the heart of a namesake town in South Australia.
Adelaide Oval has always been a batting paradise, perhaps the most batsman-friendly pitch in entire Australia. From Bradman to Ponting to Lara, some of the best batsmen have amassed runs on this docile tract. The ground has given us some memorable moments – be it Courtney Walsh taking the last wicket to give his team a one-run victory over Australia in 1992 or Sri Lanka virtually walking out of the match after Muttiah Muralitharan was called out for his uncanny action in an ODI in 1999.
- Coordinates: 34°54′56″S 138°35′46″E
- Location: War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide, South Australia
- Home Teams: Australian National team, South Australia Team, Adelaide Strikers
10. M. A. Chidambaram Stadium
- Seating Capacity: 50,000
- Alternate Name: Chepauk Stadium
One of the most prestigious cricket venues in India and the world, MA Chidambaram Stadium can accommodate about 50,000 spectators at a given time. That makes it share the 10th spot on our list with two other stadiums having similar seating capacity. These include JSCA International Cricket Stadium, Ranchi, and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
The stadium derives its name from Muthiah Annamalai (M.A.) Chidambaram, an ex-BCCI president. Better known as the Chepauk Stadium, it is the second oldest stadium in India built specifically for cricket in 1916. It was here India registered its first test win ever, Gavaskar hit his record-breaking 30th century, Dravid scored his 10,000th run, and Warne went past Muralidharan’s record of 532 test wickets. Even the 2nd-ever tied test in history was played here between India and Australia.
- Coordinates: 13°03′46″N 80°16′46″E
- Location: Wallajah Road, Chepauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Home Teams: Team India, Tamil Nadu cricket team, Chennai Super Kings
Conclusion
So, that was our take on the 10 biggest cricket stadiums in the world. Cricket, as you know is one of the most followed games globally with the biggest viewership coming from India. While a majority of viewers watch cricket on television or on gadgets, some die-hard fans prefer to enjoy live cricket on the ground.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the Biggest cricket ground in the world?
With a seating capacity of 132,000, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad stands tall as the biggest cricket stadium in the world by seating capacity.
2. What are three of the biggest cricket grounds in the world?
Besides the Narendra Modi Stadium, the two other world’s biggest grounds include the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Eden Gardens.
3. How is the size of a cricket ground measured?
They use two main parameters to this end, including the stadium’s seating capacity and the distance between the pitch and the boundary.
4. What is the seating capacity of the Sardar Patel Stadium?
The Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, India, has a seating capacity of around 132,000 spectators.
5. How many pitches are usually present on cricket grounds?
A typical cricket ground has anywhere around 2 to 4 pitches.
6. What are the advantages of having a large cricket ground?
The bigger the cricket ground, the more number of spectators it can accommodate. As we all know, larger crowds bring more revenue and greater passion into the game.
7. What factors contribute to the popularity of cricket grounds?
The size, facilities, history, and ability to host major cricket matches contribute to the popularity of big cricket grounds.
8. How does the MCG rank among the biggest cricket grounds?
The 100,024 capacity of MCG makes it the second-largest cricket stadium in the world, the biggest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere, and the world’s 11th-biggest stadium overall. Also, we also know it for its iconic history and great contests.
9. How does the size of a cricket ground affect player performance?
Batsmen find it hard to hit boundaries and clear the ropes in larger cricket stadiums by boundary. So, they have to adapt their shots and fielders to cover more ground, which can greatly influence team strategies.
10. Are large cricket grounds only used for cricket matches?
While cricket is the primary sport played at these grounds, they can also host other events such as concerts, festivals, and cultural gatherings.
11. What role does pitch quality play in cricket grounds?
The outcome of contests, player performances, and other key factors depend on the quality of the pitch.
12. How does the atmosphere in a large cricket ground enhance the experience?
The collective energy and enthusiasm of a large crowd in these stadiums create an exhilarating atmosphere that energizes players and fans alike.
13. Do large cricket grounds have historical significance?
Yes, many large cricket grounds have witnessed historic matches, record-breaking performances, and unforgettable moments that contribute to their legacy.
14. How does the architecture of large cricket grounds cater to spectator comfort?
These grounds provide comfortable seating arrangements, modern amenities, and facilities that enhance the overall experience for spectators.
15. Are large cricket grounds equipped with modern technology?
Yes, many large cricket grounds are equipped with advanced technology for live broadcasts, high-quality displays, and fan engagement.
16. How do large cricket grounds contribute to local economies?
Large cricket grounds attract tourists, fans, and sponsors, stimulating local businesses and generating economic activity.
17. What role do large cricket grounds play in promoting the sport?
These grounds serve as venues for international matches, showcasing the sport to a global audience and inspiring cricket enthusiasts.
18. How do large cricket grounds promote community engagement?
These grounds often host local matches, youth training programs, and community events, fostering a sense of involvement and enthusiasm among locals.
19. How do large cricket grounds impact the legacy of cricketing nations?
They become iconic symbols of a country’s cricketing heritage, hosting memorable matches that contribute to the country’s cricketing legacy.
20. What makes visiting large cricket grounds a unique experience for fans?
Witnessing a match in a large cricket ground allows fans to be part of a vibrant crowd, soak in the electric atmosphere, and create lasting memories.