Cricket is a big deal in India. People love watching matches in big stadiums. But did you know that India also has some small cricket grounds?
These little stadiums are special in their way. They might not be as big as the famous ones, but they have their charm and history.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the 10 smallest cricket stadiums in India. These grounds may be tiny, but they’ve seen some great cricket moments.
From old stadiums in big cities to new ones in smaller towns, each has its own story to tell.
Top 10 Smallest Cricket Stadiums in India in 2024
We’ll talk about where these stadiums are, how many people they can hold, and what makes them special.
You’ll learn about their history and some of the big matches that have been played there.
Whether you’re a cricket fan or just curious about sports places in India, you’ll find something interesting here.
So, let’s start our tour of India’s coziest cricket grounds. Get ready to discover some hidden gems in the world of Indian cricket!
List of 10 Smallest Cricket Stadiums in India
Before we dive into the details, here’s a quick look at the 10 smallest cricket stadiums in India:
Name of Stadium | City | Ground Length | Seating Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Brabourne Stadium | Mumbai | 180 meters | 20,000 |
Moti Bagh Stadium | Vadodara | 160 meters | 18,000 |
Green Park Stadium | Kanpur | 150 meters | 18,000 |
Holkar Cricket Stadium | Indore | 165 meters | 26,000 |
Nehru Stadium | Kochi | 140 meters | 40,000 |
Lalbhai Contractor Stadium | Surat | 150 meters | 7,000 |
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | Dehradun | 160 meters | 25,000 |
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium | Dharamshala | 175 meters | 23,000 |
Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium | Visakhapatnam | 155 meters | 27,500 |
Barsapara Cricket Stadium | Guwahati | 160 meters | 40,000 |
Now, let’s take a closer look at each of these stadiums.
Top 10 Smallest Cricket Stadiums in India in 2024
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
- City: Mumbai
- Ground Length: 180 meters
- Seating Capacity: 20,000
- Location: Stadium House, Block No 3, 1st Floor, Veer Nariman Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020
Brabourne Stadium is one of the oldest cricket grounds in India. It’s been around since 1937, which means it’s seen a lot of cricket history. This stadium is special because it’s right in the heart of Mumbai, a city that loves cricket.
History and Features:
- Old-world charm: The stadium has a beautiful old pavilion that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
- Big matches: It’s hosted Test matches, one-day internationals, and even T20 games.
- Cricket club: The stadium is home to the Cricket Club of India, a famous cricket club.
Popular Matches Played:
- Many first-class matches have been played here over the years.
- It’s been a venue for Indian Premier League (IPL) games, bringing modern cricket to this historic ground.
Fun Fact: Brabourne Stadium was the main cricket ground in Mumbai before the Wankhede Stadium was built.
Moti Bagh Stadium, Vadodara
- City: Vadodara
- Ground Length: 160 meters
- Seating Capacity: 18,000
- Location: 75QV+85M, Moti Baug Kothar, near Vadodara, Moti Baug, Vadodara, Gujarat 390001
Moti Bagh Stadium in Vadodara is another old stadium with a lot of history. It’s been around since the 1930s and is known for its beautiful setting.
History and Features:
- Royal connection: The stadium is part of the Laxmi Vilas Palace grounds, which gives it a royal touch.
- Local pride: It’s the home ground for the Baroda cricket team.
- Talent hub: Many young cricketers from this area have learned to play here.
Popular Matches Played:
- Ranji Trophy matches: This stadium has hosted many games in India’s top domestic cricket tournament.
- Some international matches have also been played here, though not as many as in bigger stadiums.
Fun Fact: The stadium is surrounded by beautiful gardens, making it a lovely place to watch cricket.
Green Park Stadium, Kanpur
- City: Kanpur
- Ground Length: 150 meters
- Seating Capacity: 18,000
- Location: 15/66, Green Park Stadium, Civil Lines, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208001
Green Park Stadium in Kanpur is famous for being one of the main Test cricket venues in India. It’s been around since 1945 and has seen some great moments in Indian cricket.
History and Features:
- Name origin: The stadium is named after a British woman called Madam Green.
- Historic wins: India won its first Test match against Australia here in 1959.
- Unique atmosphere: The crowd here is known for being very passionate about cricket.
Popular Matches Played:
- Many Test matches have been played here over the years.
- It’s also hosted One Day Internationals (ODIs) and domestic matches.
Fun Fact: The stadium has a clock tower that’s become a famous landmark in Kanpur.
Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
- City: Indore
- Ground Length: 165 meters
- Seating Capacity: 26,000
- Location: IDA Building, Race Course Rd, Near Janjeerwala Square, New Palasia, Indore, Madhya Pradesh 452001
Holkar Cricket Stadium is one of the newer stadiums on our list. It opened in 2003 and has quickly become an important venue for cricket in central India.
History and Features:
- Modern facilities: The stadium has up-to-date amenities for players and fans.
- Good for batting: The pitch here is known to be good for scoring runs.
- Multi-purpose: Besides cricket, it’s also used for other sports and events.
Popular Matches Played:
- It’s hosted several ODI matches.
- The stadium is a venue for Indian Premier League (IPL) games.
- Many domestic tournaments are played here too.
Fun Fact: The stadium is named after the Holkar dynasty that once ruled this part of India.
Nehru Stadium, Kochi
- City: Kochi
- Ground Length: 140 meters
- Seating Capacity: 40,000
- Location: ROOM NO B 2108, First Floor, JLN STADIUM BUILDING, JLN STADIUM, Ernakulam, Kerala 682017
Nehru Stadium in Kochi is a bit different from the others on our list. It’s not just for cricket – it’s used for other sports too, especially football.
History and Features:
- Multi-sport venue: While it hosts cricket, it’s also home to Kerala Blasters, a football team.
- Large capacity: Despite being one of the smallest in cricket terms, it can hold a lot of people.
- Coastal location: Being in Kochi, it’s close to the Arabian Sea, which can affect playing conditions.
Popular Matches Played:
- It’s hosted ODI cricket matches.
- The stadium has been used for IPL games.
- Many football matches are played here too.
Fun Fact: The stadium was built in 1996 and has a unique design that makes it stand out.
Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
- City: Surat
- Ground Length: 150 meters
- Seating Capacity: 7,000
- Location: 5Q49+5M4, Maharana Pratap Rd, Piplod, Surat, Gujarat 395007
Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat is the smallest stadium on our list in terms of seating capacity. But don’t let its size fool you – it’s an important place for cricket in Gujarat.
History and Features:
- Intimate setting: With only 7,000 seats, fans get to be close to the action.
- Local focus: It’s mainly used for domestic cricket and helping local players improve.
- Named after a cricketer: The stadium is named after Lalbhai Contractor, a former Indian cricketer from Surat.
Popular Matches Played:
- Hosts many domestic cricket matches.
- It’s been used for women’s cricket tournaments.
- The stadium has seen some local T20 leagues too.
Fun Fact: Despite its small size, the stadium has hosted some big names in Indian cricket during domestic tournaments.
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
- City: Dehradun
- Ground Length: 160 meters
- Seating Capacity: 25,000
- Location: Khairi Khadar, Dehradun, Ranjhawala, Uttarakhand 248008
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun is one of the newer grounds in India. It’s bringing international cricket to the beautiful state of Uttarakhand.
History and Features:
- Mountain backdrop: The stadium offers amazing views of the nearby mountains.
- International standard: Built to meet international cricket requirements.
- Growing importance: It’s helping to spread cricket in northern India.
Popular Matches Played:
- Has hosted international T20 matches.
- Afghanistan’s home ground: For a while, the Afghanistan team used this as their home ground in India.
- Venue for domestic cricket tournaments.
Fun Fact: This stadium helped put Dehradun on the international cricket map when it hosted its first T20I in 2018.
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
- City: Dharamshala
- Ground Length: 175 meters
- Seating Capacity: 23,000
- Location: Cricket Stadium, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, Tehsil, Distt, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176215
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is probably the most picturesque cricket ground in India. It’s famous for its stunning views of the Himalayan mountains.
History and Features:
- Breathtaking location: Sits at the foot of the Dhauladhar mountain range.
- High altitude: One of the highest grounds in the world where cricket is played.
- Modern facilities: Despite its remote location, it has top-notch facilities.
Popular Matches Played:
- Hosted Test matches, bringing the longest format of the game to the mountains.
- Regular venue for ODIs and T20Is.
- Important ground for IPL matches, especially for the Kings XI Punjab team.
Fun Fact: The stadium is so beautiful that it’s become a tourist attraction, even for people who aren’t cricket fans!
Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
- City: Visakhapatnam
- Ground Length: 155 meters
- Seating Capacity: 27,500
- Location: 10-134, NH16, Pothinamallayya Palem, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530041
This stadium in Visakhapatnam (also called Vizag) is known for its excellent cricket pitch and outfield. It’s become an important venue for international cricket in recent years.
History and Features:
- Coastal location: Being near the Bay of Bengal, the weather can affect play here.
- Good for all formats: The pitch supports all types of cricket – Tests, ODIs, and T20s.
- Named after a leader: It’s named after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, a former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
Popular Matches Played:
- Hosted Test matches, including India’s 500th Test.
- A regular venue for ODIs and T20Is.
- Has seen some exciting IPL matches too.
Fun Fact: This stadium is known for its “fan-friendly” design, with good views from all seats.
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
- City: Guwahati
- Ground Length: 160 meters
- Seating Capacity: 40,000
- Location: Barsapara, Guwahati, Assam 781018
Barsapara Cricket Stadium is the newest stadium on our list. It’s bringing top-level cricket to Northeast India and is helping grow the sport in this region.
History and Features:
- Modern design: Built with the latest facilities for players and spectators.
- Large capacity: Can hold a big crowd, making it great for major matches.
- Boost for local cricket: Helping develop cricket talent in Assam and nearby states.
Popular Matches Played:
- Has hosted international T20 matches.
- Venue for ODI cricket.
- Used for IPL games, bringing the excitement of the league to Northeast India.
Fun Fact: This stadium held its first international match in 2017, marking a big moment for cricket in Assam.
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Conclusion:
India’s smaller cricket stadiums might not be as famous as the big ones, but they’re just as important. Each of these grounds has its own special story and charm.
From the historic Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai to the new Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, these venues show how much India loves cricket.
These stadiums are doing a lot for cricket in India:
- They’re helping young players get better by giving them good places to play.
- They’re bringing international cricket to different parts of the country.
- Some of them, like the one in Dharamshala, are so beautiful that they’re helping tourism too.
Even though they’re small, these stadiums have seen some great cricket moments. They prove that you don’t need a huge ground to play great cricket.
Whether it’s a test match at Green Park or a T20 game in Dehradun, these stadiums keep the spirit of cricket alive across India.
So, next time you hear about a match at one of these grounds, remember – good things come in small packages!
These little stadiums are big on cricket spirit and are an important part of India’s love for the game.