Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, is one of world cricket’s largest venues. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the International Cricket Council (ICC) list its seating capacity at 132,000. Located at Motera near the Sabarmati River, the ground hosts international cricket and major domestic competitions. This article was first published in 2023 and has been substantially revised on 2 November 2026 to replace approximate numbers and unverified filler with official venue details and verifiable cricket history.
The main references are BCCI’s official venue directory, the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA), and the ICC’s World Cup venue profile. The venue is not a new 2026 construction or an attraction whose seating capacity can be inferred from crowd photographs.
At a glance: official venue facts
| Feature | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Location | Motera, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India |
| Venue association | Gujarat Cricket Association |
| Capacity reported by BCCI and ICC | 132,000 seats |
| BCCI-listed ends | Adani Pavilion End; Jio End |
| Stadium redevelopment | Rebuilt during the latter 2010s; completed in 2020 and reopened for major events around 2021 |
| Notable tournament | Final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup on 19 November 2023 |
Capacity is the number of seats a venue is designed to hold; attendance is how many people actually enter for a specific event. These are not interchangeable. A 132,000-seat listing does not mean every match attracts 132,000 spectators, nor does it establish which tickets are available for a future fixture.
From Motera to the rebuilt stadium
The ground developed as a major cricket venue in Ahmedabad during the 1980s. GCA describes the earlier facility as accommodating about 49,000 spectators before reconstruction. The association says it decided in October 2015 to rebuild the stadium on a much larger scale, with the redevelopment completed in February 2020. ICC records that the venue was renamed Narendra Modi Stadium on 24 February 2021.
This timeline matters because photographs, seating figures and records from the older Motera ground and the modern stadium can appear together in search results. An older cricket photograph is not evidence of the current seating arrangement. Likewise, the number of matches played at the ground before the redevelopment should not be described as matches held inside the new structure.
What makes this cricket ground distinctive?
GCA lists a site of about 63 acres and four entry points, along with four team dressing rooms, indoor practice pitches, outdoor practice fields, an indoor cricket academy and 76 corporate boxes with 25 seats each. The authority also provides a field measurement of 180 by 150 yards as a venue specification. None of these dimensions by itself guarantees the exact boundary distance for a particular match; boundary ropes and competition regulations can change the playable area.
- Large seating bowl: enables major games and public events on a scale unusual for cricket.
- Multiple dressing rooms: supports events with more than two teams or consecutive fixtures.
- Training facilities: practice pitches and fields support preparation apart from the match surface.
- Association administration: the Gujarat Cricket Association is the relevant body for the venue’s organizational details.
- Match-specific arrangements: access gates, seating blocks, ticket prices, security rules and transport may differ by event.
Important cricket records at the venue
BCCI records that Sunil Gavaskar crossed 10,000 Test runs at the venue in March 1987. GCA also documents Kapil Dev’s milestone 432nd Test wicket in February 1994 and India’s victory over Australia in the 2011 men’s World Cup quarter-final. These moments occurred at the earlier ground and form part of the venue’s continuing history. Readers should not describe them as records set in a stadium built only in 2020.
On 24 February 2021, India and England played the day-night Test associated with the stadium’s new era. The date of the event, the form of the match and the year of the redevelopment should be kept separate from records set decades earlier. Sports reporting is more useful when it explains the historical context of a ground rather than simply listing impressive-sounding numbers.
Why the 2023 World Cup final matters
The stadium hosted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final on 19 November 2023. India made 240 and Australia reached 241/4 to win by six wickets, according to the ICC’s official match account. Travis Head’s innings was central to the chase. The ICC identifies this match as the final of the 2023 tournament; it is not a prediction about a future India–Australia fixture.
A large crowd attended the final, but crowd attendance should be cited with its own source and date instead of equated with full seating capacity. The ICC match report and ICC attendance review provide suitable context. Historical result data should not be updated as if it is a live scoreboard.
How to plan a stadium visit for a specific match
A visitor needs a current event announcement, not just the permanent venue address. Confirm the fixture with the competition organizer and buy tickets through the explicitly authorized ticketing partner for that event. A third-party listing or a social-media post promising ‘VIP access’ without official authorization should not be treated as proof of an available ticket.
- Verify the actual fixture, date, time, age rules and ticket-release window using the competition or association’s official page.
- Check the name of your stand and access gate on the issued ticket rather than assuming every entry point is open.
- Read the match-specific list of restricted items, bag rules, ID requirements and permitted photography.
- Allow extra travel time around large events, and use current police/transport advisories for closures or parking.
- Confirm accessibility, seating assistance and companion policies with the official event operator before travel.
The venue address listed by GCA is Stadium Road, Motera, Sabarmati, Ahmedabad 380005. This is a location reference, not a promise of parking, public transport frequency, gate timings or ticket availability on any particular date. Confirm that information for the exact event.
What is often misunderstood about stadium size?
| Common statement | Better interpretation |
|---|---|
| ‘The stadium holds 135,000 fans’ | Use BCCI/ICC’s published 132,000 capacity rather than an unverified rounded maximum. |
| ‘Every major game has a record crowd’ | Compare official attendance reports for the individual match. |
| ‘All history began with the 2021 rename’ | The original Motera ground hosted international cricket for decades before redevelopment. |
| ‘A 180-yard field is the boundary distance’ | A site field dimension does not automatically equal the match-day boundary rope. |
| ‘A historical ticket or route is still valid’ | Match-specific ticketing, entry rules and transport must be rechecked. |
Frequently asked questions
Where is Narendra Modi Stadium?
It is at Motera near the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
What is its official seating capacity?
BCCI and ICC list 132,000 seats. Individual event attendance varies.
Is Motera Stadium the same venue?
The historical ground was commonly known as Motera Stadium. The venue was substantially rebuilt and renamed Narendra Modi Stadium in 2021.
Who won the 2023 Cricket World Cup final here?
Australia beat India by six wickets on 19 November 2023.
Primary sources and editorial update
Sources checked 2 November 2026: BCCI venue directory; Gujarat Cricket Association’s stadium profile; ICC venue history; ICC 2023 final report. Original publication: November 2023. Substantive rewrite: November 2026. Earlier approximations and unrelated links were removed. No firsthand visit, ticket purchase or interview is claimed.