India vs England 2021: Will Miss Being At The Sardar Patel Stadium Today, Says Sourav Ganguly Ahead Of The D/N Test

Former India captain and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly tweeted an amazing photo of the New Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad ahead of its inauguration as it readies to host its first international match, the third Test match between India and England, a day/night affair, on February 24, 2021.

Sourav Ganguly also posted that he will miss being there for the inauguration ceremony and hopes to have many such grounds in the country going forward. Ganguly has undergone multiple angioplasties to elevate the pressure in his arteries after he was diagnosed with blocked arteries in January this year.

Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera- World’s Largest Cricket Stadium

Owned by Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), this new Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad is the largest cricket stadium in the world, with a capacity of 1,10,000 people. It surpassed Australia’s Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), which holds 1,00,024 people, with the maximum seating capacity to approximately 95,000 with an additional 5,000 standing room capacity.

It is built on the site of the Sardar Patel Stadium which was demolished in 2015. The redesigned stadium occupies 63 acres of land, with three entry points with a metro line at one of the entry points. It contains 76 corporate boxes that can hold 25 persons each, a 55-room clubhouse, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and four dressing rooms.

The stadium features LED lights on the roof, instead of the usual floodlights. The venue was inaugurated previously by former United States of America President Donald Trump, who had visited the stadium alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 24, 2020.

First-ever day/night Test in Sardar Patel Stadium

On February 24, 2021, the stadium will host its first-ever day/night Test match when India and England clash in what is the third Test of the series. The series stands 1-1 with both England and India winning one Test each in Chennai previously.

The remaining two Tests, both of which will be played in Motera, are of huge value taking the World Test Championship into consideration. India needs to win atleast one of the two Tests and draw one to make it into the finals of the WTC, while England needs to win both the Tests to do the same. The winner of the series will face New Zealand in the WTC final at Lord’s England on June 18.

Meanwhile, Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI President also thanked PM Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah in his tweet for their leadership. The new stadium will be inaugurated by the President of India, Sh. Ramnath Kovind before the start of the day’s play and will also see Amit Shah in attendance as the guest of honor.

“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.hope to see full stands like last time. Under the leadership of Honble Prime minister @narendramodi Amit Shah @AmitShah,” Ganguly tweeted.

Also Read: India vs England 2021: President Of India Ramnath Kovind To Inaugurate Motera Stadium Before D/N Test; HM Amit Shah Guest Of Honor 

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.hope to see full stands like last time. Under the leadership of Honble Prime minister @narendramodi Amit Shah @AmitShah .. pic.twitter.com/za7vdYHTN0

— Sourav Ganguly (@SGanguly99) February 24, 2021