Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report: Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is among the largest and busiest in the world. Able to hold a staggering 132 000 spectators at once. It is widely known as the Motera Stadium to avoid confusion with another similar facility located in Navrangpura. The facility was originally called either the Motera Gujarat or” Sardar Patel ” Stadium.
The world-class stadium is owned and operated by the Gujarat Cricket Association and is located on the banks of the Sabarmati River, with a time zone of UTC +05:30.
Stadium Facts at a Glance
Opened: 1982
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Capacity: 132,000
Ends: Adani Pavilion End & GMDC End
Floodlights: Yes (state-of-the-art system)
Curator: Bagira Thakur
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Home Teams: Gujarat (Domestic), Gujarat Titans (IPL)
Venue History
Before the construction of the current stadium, international matches in Ahmedabad were hosted at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s stadium bearing the same name.
In 1982, the Gujarat government allocated 50 acres of land along the Sabarmati River for a new cricket ground. Remarkably, the stadium was built within just nine months. The first international match played here was a Test match between India and West Indies on November 12, 1983.
Three new pitches
Upgraded outfield
Today, it stands as one of India’s premier cricket venues.st Indies on November 12, 1983. The venue underwent a major renovation in 2006 before the Champions Trophy, introducing:
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Modern floodlights
Covered stands
Three new pitches
Upgraded outfield
Stadium Architecture & Facilities
The Narendra Modi Stadium has several contemporary stands:
GMDC Upper & Lower Stands
East Upper & Lower Pavilion
Adani Lower & Upper Pavilion
Club Pavilion
West Pavilion
Most of the seating is arranged in a two-level design, which ensures excellent visibility for the spectators. The Adani Pavilion includes:
More than 20 air-conditioned corporate boxes
Player dressing rooms
Hospitality areas
The stadium also has 21 entry gates, which help in easy crowd management during major events.
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report shows that the pitch has always been bowler-friendly but has undergone changes over the years.
Nature of the Pitch:
Always bowler-friendly
Slowed down over the years
Aids spinners, especially in Test matches
Less bounce compared to other pitches
Test matches are usually drawn due to the slow nature of the pitch. However, in white-ball cricket, such as T20 matches, the pitch is balanced where batters can easily score runs once they are set.
T20 Statistics at Narendra Modi Stadium
Total Matches: 15
Matches Won Batting First: 10
Matches Won Bowling First: 5
Average 1st Innings Score: 173
Average 2nd Innings Score: 151
Highest Total Recorded: 234/4 (IND vs NZ)
Lowest Total Recorded: 66/10 (NZ vs IND)
Highest Successful Chase: 178/3 (RSA vs NZ)
Lowest Total Defended: 107/7 (WIW vs INDW)
T20 Pitch Insight
While playing T20 matches, the teams batting first have had more success. Scoring 170+ in the first innings is a competitive score. Chasing, owing to the slowing down of the pitch in the second innings, may become difficult under pressure.
Memorable Records & Trivia
Historic milestones in cricket have been achieved at the Narendra Modi Stadium:
Sunil Gavaskar became the first cricketer to score 10,000 Test runs at this ground against Pakistan (1986-87).
Kapil Dev took his 432nd Test wicket at this ground in 1993, breaking Sir Richard Hadlee’s record to become the world’s highest wicket-taker at that time.
These are legendary feats that ensure the Narendra Modi Stadium’s position in cricket history.
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