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World's largest stadium opens in India

24-02-2021

India has officially declared open the world's largest cricket arena, Narendra Modi Stadium, built at a cost of $800 million in the western state of Gujarat.

A state-of-the-art facility, it can accommodate an awe-inspiring 1.32 lakh spectators, thus dislodging the 90,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground, reported PTI.

Earlier on Wednesday, President Ram Nath Kovind performed ‘bhumi pujan’ and inaugurated the newly revamped Motera Stadium ahead of the start of the Day-Night Test between India and England.

With a gold rating of green-building certification, the stadium is a good example of eco-friendly development, said Kovind, adding that the modern facilities provided here would inspire players to perform their best, and the spectators would get a unique experience.

He also appreciated the efforts put in building the stadium which was started under the guidance of the then chief minister Narendra Modi, who is now the prime minister, and continued by Union Home Minister Amit Shah as the then chairman of Gujarat Cricket Association.

Home Minister Amit Shah, BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju were also present at the inauguration ceremony of the world’s largest cricket stadium held today (February 24).

Speaking on the occasion, Shah said it was the Prime Minister’s vision to build the world's largest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.

"As CM, he (Modi) used to say Gujaratis must also progress in two fields—sports and armed forces. He took charge of the Gujarat Cricket Association on my request and promoted sports here. His vision was that the world's largest cricket stadium be built here,” he stated.

Narendra Modi Stadium is the only such facility in the world with 11 centre pitches on the main ground. It also has 6 indoor pitches with bowling machines and 4 dressing rooms and is also the largest cricket stadium in the world with four world-class dressing rooms.

"The total area is equivalent to 32 Olympic size soccer fields put together," stated the report citing Press Information Bureau report giving specifics of the enormous structure.

A key highlight of the ground is its drainage system which will take just 30 minutes from the time it stops raining to drain out the water.

A built-in clubhouse with 55 rooms further adds to the stadium's glory, said the PTI report. The clubhouse features both indoor & outdoor games, restaurants, an Olympic size swimming pool, gym as well as a 3D projector theatre, it added.

It is the first time that the field of an Indian cricket stadium has been fitted with LED lights.

No other stadium has this feature. There are three entry points to the stadium which has been spread across 63 acres of land in total, it stated.

"We're proud to have the biggest cricket stadium in the world. The infrastructure is very good and we're all really excited to play here,” Virat Kohli had said in his press conference on Tuesday.

Crowd presence does make a big difference. We feel the pressure too when we play abroad. Hoping for good support in the coming Tests,” Kohli had added.

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, who underwent two sets of angioplasty last month, was not able to be a part of the inauguration ceremony and had rued missing the Pink Ball Test.

“Will miss being at the stadium today ..what an effort it must have been to create this ..pink test was our dream and it's going be the 2nd one in india”: Sourav Ganguly wrote on Twitter.