India might not have invented Cricket but the sport has a massive fan following in the country. The country has witnessed players like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, and Rohit Sharma etc. stage on fire at the international level. Perhaps, for the same reason, India is also home to so many cricket stadiums.
There are as many as 49 international cricket venues in India and the country single-handedly hosted the 50-over Cricket World Cup in 2023 without much fuss. While some of the stadiums are old and as per tradition, have been hosting marquee matches over the years, a few have been recently inaugurated and have hosted only a handful of international cricket matches, so far.
On that note, let us have a look at the five oldest cricket grounds in India:
- Green Park Stadium, Kanpur
Located in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Green Park Stadium is one of the renowned cricket stadiums in India. The venue recently hosted the Test match between India and Bangladesh, which the home team won despite rain dominating the proceedings for most part of the match. Green Park Stadium was established in 1945 and is the fifth oldest cricket ground in India. The venue has been hosting international matches, since 1952.
The first-ever international match at this ground was played on January 12, 1952, between India and England. The visiting team won that encounter by eight wickets. The floodlights were installed in 2006, but they are slightly low compared to most of the grounds in India. The venue has hosted 24 Tests, 15 ODIs, and 1 T20I so far.
2. Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
Brabourne Stadium is another renowned stadium, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The stadium was originally built in 1937 and has hosted a number of international cricket matches, since. The stadium is named after Lord Brabourne, who was Governor of Bombay from 1933 to 1937. The approximate capacity of the stadium is around 20,000 and is the fourth oldest cricket stadium in India.
The first international cricket match at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai was played on 9th December 1948 between India and West Indies. Overall, the venue has hosted 18 Tests, 20 ODIs and 11 T20Is, so far.
3. MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai
MA Chidambaram Stadium is located in Chennai and is popularly known as the Chepauk Stadium. It is the third-oldest cricket stadium in India, established in 1916. The Chepauk stadium is also the home ground of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The stadium hosted its first-ever international match on 10th February 1934, played between India and England. England won the game by a massive margin of 202 runs.
MA Chidambaram Stadium has a capacity of 50,000 people. It is named after the former president of BCCI and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). Moreover, India registered their first-ever Test win at this stadium, beating England by an innings and 8 runs. Overall, Chepauk has hosted 37 Tests, 39 ODIs and 9 T20Is so far and looks set to host a lot more international cricket matches in the near future.
4. Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
The Arun Jaitley Stadium is located in India’s national capital, Delhi. It was formerly known as Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium. The stadium was renamed as the Arun Jaitley stadium in a bid to honour the former President of Delhi.
The venue has a capacity of around 41,000 spectators and is also home to the Delhi Capitals franchise in the Indian Premier League. Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi is the second-oldest cricket stadium in India as it was established in 1882.
The first international cricket match at the venue was played between India and West Indies on November 10, 1948. The match ended in a draw. Overall, the venue has, so far, hosted 37 Tests, 33 ODIs and 14 T20Is.
5. Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Eden Gardens in Kolkata is the oldest cricket ground in India. It is also the largest ever cricket stadium in India and the second largest in the world in terms of capacity. The venue is also home to the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise in the Indian Premier League.
The venue was established back in 1864 and the first international match was played on 5th January, 1934 between India and England. Overall, the iconic venue has hosted 42 Tests, 40 ODIs and 12 T20Is, so far.
