Top 10 Largest International Cricket Stadiums With Highest Seating Capacity

Fans at any cricket stadium is a highly encouraging sight not only for the players, but also for the viewers watching the match from several parts of the world. The last few months have often transpired without spectators within the stadium due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been for the first time in several decades it happened.

And needless to say, the viewers have missed them as much as the cricketers since they instil the energy and bring the vibe. Hence, stadiums with enormous sitting capacities often beg for the spectators to fill the seats and create a thrilling atmosphere. Over the years, cricket stadiums have seen their capacities increase by leaps and bounds.

We take a look at 10 International cricket stadiums with the largest sitting capacities:

10. Sydney Cricket Ground – 44002:

Sydney Cricket Ground is one of the oldest grounds and contested its first Test back in 1882 between Australia and England. On the other hand, SCG hosted it’s inaugural One-day international in 1979 and T20 international in 2007. SCG is also the home of the Big Bash League franchise Sydney Sixers.

The highest run-getter in Tests at the Sydney Cricket Ground is Allan Border with 1480 runs in 16 games, while Shane Warne is the highest wicket-taker at the venue with 64 in 14 fixtures at 28.12. Australia has also not lost a Test at the SCG since January 2011 when England beat them.

9. Docklands Stadium – 48000:

The Docklands Stadium in Melbourne is one of the three international stadiums in the city and has not hosted many games so far. Having staged its first ODI against South Africa back in 2000, the Docklands Stadium hosted only 11 more matches, the last of which occurred in 2006.

Former Australia keeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist is the highest run-getter at the venue in ODIs, mustering 451 runs in 11 fixtures at 41. On the other hand, Brett Lee is the highest wicket-taker with 25 scalps in ten games at 15.20. The Docklands in Melbourne is yet to host Tests and T20Is.

8. Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium – 50000:

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has so far hosted one Test, three ODIs, and four T20 internationals. It hosted it’s only Test back in November 2019, acting as a home stadium for Afghanistan, who hosted the West Indies. Nevertheless, the Caribbeans won by nine wickets.

Fascinatingly, of the three ODIs, India has played in none of them and all have been between Afghanistan and the West Indies, with the Caribbeans winning all of them. The match between India and South Africa stood cancelled in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The men in blue won the only T20I they played in the ground.

8. Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium (JSCA) – 50000:

On the other hand, Jharkhand State Cricket Association Stadium (JSCA) hosted its first Test in 2017 when a thrilling Test between India and Australia ended in a draw. Nevertheless, the hosts won the second Test at the venue comfortably by an inning and 202 runs.

The ground has also hosted four ODIs and two T20Is. Of the four completed ODIs, the home side has won a couple and lost the remaining. Nevertheless, India enjoys a perfect T20I record at the venue, winning both of them against Australia and Sri Lanka easily.

8. Adelaide Oval – 50000:

Adelaide Oval in Australia is also one of the most iconic venues in the world, staging its first Test between Australia and England in 1984. The Adelaide Oval also hosted the first day and night Test or the pink-ball match when Australia and New Zealand locked horns in 2015. The hosts eked out the thrilling encounter by three wickets.

The venue hosted it’s first ODI in 1975, while the inaugural T20I in 2011. Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting is the highest run-getter in Tests at the ground, accumulating 1743 runs in 17 fixtures, with six centuries and a best of 242. Warne has the most wickets at the Adelaide Oval, taking 56 scalps in 13 matches at 30.44.

7. Greenfield Stadium (Thiruvananthapuram) – 55000:

The Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram is a relatively new international ground as it has hosted only three games so far, two of which are T20 internationals. The only One-day international between India and the West Indies saw the tourists bundle out for 104 in the first innings and India won by nine wickets.

On the other hand, India has lost and won one T20I each at the venue. The men in blue won a rain-hit encounter against New Zealand in 2017 when the match lasted only six overs for both sides. But the West Indies beat them two years later at the ground by eight wickets, chasing 171 for victory.

6. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium (Hyderabad) – 55000:

As for the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, the stadium has staged six Tests, six ODIs, and two T20 internationals. Cheteshwar Pujara is the highest run-getter in Tests at this venue, scoring 510 runs in four Tests at 127.50, while Ravichandran Ashwin has bagged 27 scalps in four games at 16.03. India has so far remained unbeaten in Tests in Hyderabad.

In contrast, the hosts have lost three and won as many ODIs in Hyderabad. Australia has beaten India twice in the venue, while South Africa managed to do it once. India’s victories have come against England, Sri Lanka, and the latest against Australia in early 2019. The T20 internationals has seen the home side emerged victorious in one, while the other was abandoned.

5. Perth Stadium/Optus Stadium – 60000:

The Optus Stadium is a newly-constructed venue in the city and opened its account in December 2018 when Australia and India battled in a Test. With 60000 capacity, the Optus Stadium is the third-largest in Australia and became the fourth venue in 2019 to stage a pink-ball Test.

The home side has an unbeaten record in Tests at the venue, beating India and New Zealand comfortably. The ground has hosted only one T20I, which was also won by Australia as they defeated Pakistan by ten wickets. But the men in yellow are yet to win a One-day international at the Optus Stadium, losing to England and South Africa.

4. Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium – 65400:

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium is yet to host an international game; however, the venue has staged plenty of Indian Premier League (IPL) fixtures. In January 2013, BCCI had announced that Delhi Daredevils would be using the ground as their home venue. From 2013 to 2016, it has hosted a lot of games of IPL and some fixtures of the 2014 Champions League T20.

The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh Stadium had also hosted the Road Safety World Series in early 2021. The ground and infrastructure facilities had impressed plenty of renowned cricketers, earning praises from Sunil Gavaskar, Irfan Pathan, Viv Richards, Yuvraj Singh, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and Ravi Shastri. It would be keen to get an international game moving forward.

3. Eden Gardens – 66000:

Eden Gardens in Kolkata is yet another breathtaking stadium as it has given the cricketing fans some of the best moments in history. Eden Gardens, with a capacity of 66000, hosted its first Test in 1934, inaugural ODI in 1987, and the first T20 international in 2011. VVS Laxman’s 1217 runs in ten Tests at 110.63 are the highest in the ground, while Harbhajan Singh is the leading wicket-taker with 37. It became the first venue in India in 2019 to host a pink-ball Test

The venue witnessed the famous 2001 Test between India and Australia when the hosts staged a remarkable comeback to seal a victory. Australia beat England to win their first ODI World Cup at the Eden Gardens under Allan Border. West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite hit four consecutive sixes in the last over against England as the Caribbeans romped to their second T20I title. Indian batsman Rohit Sharma’s highest ODI score of 264 also came at this venue.

2. Melbourne Cricket Ground – 90000:

Melbourne Cricket Ground is the oldest cricketing venue in the world, hosting the first Test match in 1877 against England. After 104 years, it also staged the first One-day international, while 2008 became the year of its first T20 international. The ground, having 90000 worth capacity, has hosted two World Cup finals too, one of which was won by the home side.

Former Australian captain Donald Bradman is the highest run-getter in Tests at the venue, mustering 1671 runs in 11 Tests at a jaw-dropping average of 128.53. He scored nine Test centuries, with a best of 270. On the other hand, paceman Dennis Lillee’s 82 wickets in 14 fixtures at 21.92 is the highest in the venue.

1. Narendra Modi Stadium – 132000:

Narendra Modi Stadium, previously known as Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, is an ancient one as it hosted its maiden Test back in 1983. On the other hand, the Stadium’s first One-day international was in 1984 and T20I in 2012. But the refurbished stadium has a different look and came into being in 2021 when it hosted plenty of fixtures between India and England.

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has a capacity of a whopping 132000 and became the second venue in India to host a pink-ball Test. But due to the match ending in just two days, the pitch came under heavy scrutinization. The ground staged the five-match T20I series between India and England, with the hosts winning three games out of it.

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