Sardar Patel Stadium To Have Three Types Of Pitches

The Sardar Patel Stadium, which is popularly known as Motera Stadium, has not held an international game since 2014. The ODI between India and Sri Lanka on November 6, 2014 was the last international game at the Ahmedabad-based stadium. Well the wait will be worthwhile as when the stadium will finally reopen in March 2020, it will be the largest cricket stadium in the world.

The old structure of the stadium was pulled down in 2015.  Built at a cost of Rs 700 crore, the new structure has a seating capacity of 1,10,000 spectators instead of the old seating capacity of 53,000. It has taken four and half years for Larsen & Toubro (L&T), the constructor, to build it. The foundation stone had been laid in January 2017.

The new stadium will house two large seating tiers, each with approximately 50,000 general admission seat capacity. As per reports, the seating bowl will provide each spectator with a full unobstructed view of the field. Apart from this, the seating bowl also has 76 corporate boxes, four-team dressing rooms and associated facilities, a state-of-the-art club and an Olympic-size swimming pool.

Three pitches:

Well, the new stadium will also have a mix of three kinds of pitches that will suit the requirements of both fast-bowlers and spinners. According to Indian Express, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) is bringing both red and black soil to prepare three kinds of pitches within the new stadium. The association is bringing the soil from different parts of the country.

“GCA is preparing 11 cricket pitches at the world’s largest cricket stadium…Some pitches will be prepared with red soil, while some will be with black soil and some may have a mix of both. There will be bouncy as well as spin-friendly pitches along with sporting pitches based on the requirement, “said Dhanraj Nathwani, Vice President of GCA.

Meanwhile, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has already confirmed that the first game at the stadium will be a match between Asia XI and World XI. The BCCI is yet to take permission from the ICC for the match.

Also Read: Sourav Ganguly Confirms Asia XI vs World XI Match At Sardar Patel Stadium In Ahmedabad