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Two different teams in the middle, jam-packed seats, fans draped in their favorite team’s color, the hilarious yet sentimental fan-made posters being displayed on the big screen once in a while, and the DJ playing patriotic songs to amp up the atmosphere – this makes for the recipe of a perfect cricket match. It is always a sight to behold to see the fans enjoying a game and the players live in the stadiums.
While there are clashes like India vs Pakistan and England vs Australia that act as crowd pullers irrespective of the cricket arenas they are being played in, there are certain stadiums as well that hold sentimental value for the viewers.
Known as the “Home of Cricket”, Lord’s Cricket Ground in London is nothing less than a temple for the viewers who worship the game of cricket. Over the years, the stadium has witnessed a lot of things and has made a special place for itself in the hearts of the fans.
Just like England, India also enjoys a rich history when it comes to cricket venues, which are more than just cricket grounds.
India’s Iconic Cricket Arenas
Cricket fans in India are having the time of their lives courtesy of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023, which is being hosted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India across various parts of the country. It has been nothing less than a delight for the authorities and the players to see jam-packed stadiums wherever they go and the fans brimming with excitement to cheer for their favorite teams.
While the tournament is being played across ten cities in India, there are a few stadiums including the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, MS Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala and the Eden Gardens in Kolkata that have managed to captivate the cricket lovers for reasons more than just hosting cricket matches.
There are two cricket arenas in India, Ahmedabad’s Motera Stadium and Kolkata’s Eden Gardens that perfectly depict the amalgamation of the present and the past.
While Eden Gardens is known for its rich history and has played host to many significant moments in the gentlemen’s game, the Motera Stadium celebrates modernity. and reflects the new India and has captivated the fans with its beauty and cultural significance.
The Legacy of Eden Gardens
India is a country where cricket is not treated as just a game and it is much more for the people. If cricket is god, then Kolkata’s Eden Gardens perfectly qualifies to be the temple. Established in 1864, Kolkata’s biggest attraction had the pleasure of hosting its first Test game in 1934 as India and England locked horns with each other.
Meanwhile, it was in 1987 that Eden Gardens hosted its first One Day International and witnessed the arch-rivals India and Pakistan take on each other. Referred to as the “Mecca of the Indian cricket”, Eden Gardens is India’s second-largest and oldest cricket ground. Situated next to River Ganga, the stadium enjoys a rich cricketing history and can boast of first seeing the madness of the fans that India is so famous for in today’s world.
The spiritual centre of Indian cricket also has a bell like the Lord’s and is known for providing players with pitches that are of the utmost quality.
The Modern Marvel: Motera Stadium
The Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad is held in high regard owing to its cultural significance not just for Gujarat but for India as a developing country. Considering the headlines that the Narendra Modi Stadium has been making for the past three years for being the largest cricket stadium in the world, many people have forgotten the legacy of the Motera Stadium.
Placed on the banks of the Sabarmati river, the cricket history in Ahmedabad started way back in 1983 when Motera Stadium hosted West Indies for a Test match against India. With the years passing, the stadium witnessed many iconic games, including the 2011 ODI World Cup, where the Indian cricket team created history.
However, it was in 2015 that the second leg of Motera Stadium kick-started as the authorities decided to demolish it. The place was re-established in February 2020 as the largest cricket stadium in the world and also renamed as the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.
The newly-built cricket stadium on the same land boasts a two-tier structure, four dressing rooms, and an Olympic-size swimming pool as well. The antibacterial roof is earthquake-resistant and houses multiple LED lights instead of the floodlights usually seen in other Indian stadiums. The playing surface has 11 centre pitches and an underground pop-up sprinkler system with sensors to detect the need for water for grass.
Beyond the Boundary: The Cultural Significance
As established by the aforementioned arguments, the venues in India are more than just the cricket grounds for the fans. Whether it is Hyderabad’s vintage Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium or the newly built Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, fans have come to love them for their rich location, legacy and the feels.
The cricket stadiums have now also become synonymous with the city’s heritage they are located it and also the players who practised on the very same pitches and went on to become the next big things in the Indian cricket team.
A perfect example of the same would be the Virat Kohli Pavillion in the Arun Jaitely Stadium in Delhi, which pays homage to the former Indian skipper while also acknowledging Kohli’s birthplace Delhi.
Similarly, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala celebrates Dharamsala’s beauty and culture.
It is also regarded as one of the most beautiful stadiums in the world owing to the scenic mountains and the temples that are visible from the stadium.
It would not be wrong to say that over the years, fans have come to love not only their favorite players but also the stadiums that provide the players with an atmosphere and platform to showcase their mettle.
