ODI World Cup 2023 Venues: Narendra Modi Stadium Capacity, WC Schedule, Pitch & More

With the ODI World Cup returning to India after a span of 12 years, fans of the sport are waiting for the biggest cricketing festival. England and New Zealand will take on each other in the opening match of the tournament at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on October 5. The ground is also referred to as the largest cricket stadium in the world as it has a seating capacity of more than 1 lakh 20 thousand. 

The Indian cricket team led by Rohit Sharma will want to repeat the 2011 ODI World Cup heroics in the 2023 edition of the tournament. The Indian team is scheduled to play against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 14 at the world's largest cricket stadium. The 'Men in Blue' have never lost against Pakistan in a 50-over World Cup game and the team will want to keep their undefeatable record intact. 

ICC ODI WC 2023 games in Ahmedabad 

• October 5, 2023: England vs New Zealand 
• October 14, 2023: India vs Pakistan
• November 4, 2023: England vs Australia
• November 10, 2023: South Africa vs Afghanistan 

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History of the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad which was known as Motera Stadium was opened in the year 1982 and is owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association. The first-ever international match which was held on the ground was between India and West Indies in the year 1983. The ground is very special for Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar as he became the first-ever batsman to score 10,000 Test runs in international cricket. Gavaskar achieved the feat at this ground in the year 1986 during the India vs Pakistan Test match. Former India skipper Kapil Dev picked up his 432nd Test scalp at this venue and became the leading wicket-taker in Tests at that time by surpassing Sir Richard Hadlee in year 1993. 

In the year 2015, the cricket stadium for demolished for reconstruction. The idea was pitched by the then-chief minister of Gujarat and GCA president Narendra Modi. However, Modi soon moved to New Delhi and became the Prime Minister of India. Larsen and Tourbo won the tender to reconstruct the ground in a bid worth ₹677.19 crore. The ground was supposed to be completed within two years but at last the construction finished in the year 2021. The venue hosted its first-ever Test match after its renovation between India and England in year 2021. 

The facilities at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

• Seating capacity of 132,000
• Adani Pavilion End, GMDC End
• 76 Corporate boxes with 55 room clubhouse and an Olympic size swimming pool
• LED installed on the roof also known as a 'Ring of Fire' instead of the usual floodlights
• The stadium also has an indoor cricket stadium for practice 

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The Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad pitch

The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedad has a total of eleven pitches at the ground which includes five black soil pitches and six red soil pitches. The black soil pitches offer more bounce as compared to the red soil pitches. The batsmen have dominated at the ground in the recent matches but the bowlers who hit the surface hard can find themselves amongst the wickets due to the increased bounce in the pitch in recent times. 

ODI statistics of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad so far

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Here's how the pitch will favour India in their match against Pakistan 

The Indian cricket team will play against Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium on October 14, 2023. The Pakistani team is known for its world-class bowling attack whereas, the Indian team has a batting-heavy side. However, the Ahmedabad pitch will favour the batsmen and the Indian batters will want to make full use of it and post a big totalirrespective of the toss. As the pitch has enough bounce for the pacers, Indian bowlers like Mohammed Siraj will get the most benefit from the surface and trouble the Pakistani batsmen.