Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera

Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium was a cricket stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad, India. Because of its location, the stadium was commonly called the Motera Stadium to avoid confusion with another stadium of the same name in the Navrangpura district. The Sardar Patel Stadium was owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association, was the largest in the state of Gujarat, with a capacity of 49,000, and was equipped with floodlights for day-and-night games. It hosted domestic and international cricket in the city until its demolition in 2015, including the 1987, 1996, and 2011 Cricket World Cups. In 2014, it was decided that a new stadium should be built on the same plot. It was a regular venue for Test cricket and One Day Internationals.

History

1983-2006

Before 1982, international cricket matches in Ahmedabad were played at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium in Navrangpura, owned by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.

In 1982, the Government of Gujarat allocated a stretch of land on the banks of the Sabarmati River to build a new stadium. Construction of the stadium was completed in nine months. The venue was originally known simply as Gujarat Stadium; however, it was soon renamed Sardar Patel Stadium (not to be confused with the previously mentioned site in Navrangpura), after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, India's first home minister and deputy prime minister. Since its completion, all international cricket fixtures in Ahmedabad have been held at the site. In the 1984-85 Australia India series, Sardar Patel Stadium hosted its first ODI, which India lost.

At the arena, Sunil Gavaskar became the first batter to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket, a feat he accomplished against Pakistan in their 1987 tour. Kapil Dev took a nine-wicket haul against the West Indies in 1983, and claimed his 432nd Test wicket at the stadium in 1995 to become the highest wicket-taker in Tests, surpassing Richard Hadlee's tally. In 1996, the ground hosted a low-scoring Test match against South Africa, in which the visitors lost 105–223.

Sardar Patel Stadium hosted one game each in the 1987 and 1996 World Cups, including the first match of the 1996 World Cup between England and New Zealand.

2006–2015

In 2006, the stadium became the focal venue of the ICC Champions Trophy and hosted five of the 15 games played. In preparation for the tournament, the stadium was renovated to add three new pitches and a new outfield. Floodlights and covered stands were also introduced at the stadium as a part of the renovation program.

In the 2010 New Zealand tour of India, the first Test of the series was held at the venue, in which Kane Williamson scored a hundred on his Test debut.

The stadium hosted three games during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, including the quarterfinals between Australia and India. Sachin Tendulkar became the first cricketer to score 18,000 runs in ODIs in a game against Australia on 24 March 2011.

2014–2020 (Demolition and construction of New Stadium)

The idea to build a new stadium was proposed by Narendra Modi himself who was the president of the Gujarat Cricket Association and the Chief Minister of Gujarat at the same time. Shortly before Modi moved to Delhi after becoming the prime minister of India, there were discussions about adding minor upgrades to the stadium and further developing areas of the structure at the pavilion end. Modi asked officials to build a new, larger stadium instead of pursuing minor renovation work.

In October 2015, the stadium was demolished for reconstruction, though some media referred to it as a renovation. The total cost of reconstruction was estimated to be ₹700 crores (). However, the final cost was reported at . The redevelopment, originally planned to be completed in 2019, finished in February 2020, and was named Narendra Modi Stadium.

Tournament results

Cricket World Cup

ICC Champions Trophy

World Cup matches

Erstwhile Sardar Patel Stadium had hosted matches of World Cups:

1987 Cricket World Cup

1996 Cricket World Cup

----

2011 Cricket World Cup

----

----

Notable achievements made in the stadium

* In 1986, Sunil Gavaskar completed 10,000 runs in Test cricket, while playing against Pakistan.
* In 1994, Kapil Dev took his 432nd wicket in Test cricket to surpass Richard Hadlee's tally of most Test wickets.
* In October 1999, Sachin Tendulkar scored his first Test double hundred against New Zealand.
* On 20 November 2009, Tendulkar passed thirty thousand runs at international level.
* In 2011, Tendulkar became the first-ever cricketer to score 18,000 runs in ODI format in a match against Australia during the Cricket World Cup.
* In 2008, AB de Villiers scored his maiden Test double century.

Records

Test match records

* Highest innings total: Sri Lanka 760/7d – India v Sri Lanka, 2nd inning, 16 November 2009.
* Lowest innings total: India 76 – India v South Africa, 1st inning, 3 April 2008.
* Highest individual score: Mahela Jayawardene 275 (435) (4s-27 6s-1) – Sri Lanka v India, 16 November 2009.

One Day International match records

* Highest total: South Africa 365/2 – India v South Africa, 1st innings, 27 February 2010.
* Lowest total: Zimbabwe 85 – Zimbabwe v West Indies, 1st innings, 8 October 2006.

See also

* List of cricket grounds by capacity
* List of stadiums in India
* List of international cricket grounds in India
* Cricket in India
* Sport in India
* Sports in Gujarat
* Narendra Modi
* Indian Premier League

Notes

References

External links

Narendra Modi Stadium
at ESPNcricinfo

Narendra Modi Stadium
at BCCI
*

{{List of cricket grounds in India

Test cricket grounds in India
Cricket in Ahmedabad
2021 establishments in Gujarat
Cricket grounds in Gujarat
Sports venues in Ahmedabad
Sports venues completed in 1983
1983 establishments in Gujarat
20th-century architecture in India
Narendra Modi