Located on the banks of Odisha's Mahanadi river, the Barabati Stadium used to be one of those iconic stadiums of India. However, currently, it is one of those stadiums that has been doomed to get back in the race of competitions, getting matches once in a year, in the name of upliftment of the stadium. On December 9, India and South Africa will play their T20I match of the upcoming 5-match series. Well, the stadium has witnessed havoc and chaos outside the ticket counters with fans trying to overtake and collect the physical tickets. However, the stadium, named after the royal Barabati fort itself, holds the history of sport, but in a way it is fading behind the glossy stadiums. History of the iconic Barabati Stadium, Odisha The Barabati Stadium is named after the nearby historical remains of the Barabati Fort, made by the then ruler Marakata Keshari of the Somavamshi dynasty to protect the land from the floods of the Mahanadi River. The field of the Barbati Stadium has hosted many unofficial matches before being officially established in 1958 as the ultimate homeground for the Odisha Cricket Association. The first major domestic cricket milestone arrived shortly after — the stadium hosted its maiden Ranji Trophy match in 1959. On the international stage, Barabati entered when the third one‑day international (ODI) ever held in India was played here, in January 1982, between India and England. On the international stage, Barabati entered when the third one‑day international (ODI) ever held in India was played here: in January 1982, between India and England. Seating capacity of Barabati Stadium Currently the stadium can accommodate 45000 spectators. Currently owned by the Odisha Olympics Association, the Brabati Stadium is the twelfth largest stadium in India in terms of seating capacity. Like all the cricket stadiums, it too has floodlights to accommodate day/night matches, as the stadium currently hosts white ball matches. Over time it improved its hospitality facilities, mainly the dressing rooms, media & VIP boxes, and practice facilities, including indoor nets. Notably in 2012, the indoor cricket hall was renamed after Sachin Tendulkar by the OCA. Read aslo: Top 5 sledging moments in the Ashes series history Pitch behavior Notably, the field has two bowling ends named after the two important rivers of the state- The Mahanadi River End and the Kathjodi RIver end. The pitch is generally described as balanced early on, especially in limited-overs matches (ODIs/T20), it tends to be fair to batsmen, but as the game progresses, spinners often come into play. For ODIs, it remains a fairly balanced contest. Early overs may favor batters or pacers; in middle overs, spinners often dominate. Typical first‑innings totals hover around 250–280 in standard conditions. ew in day-night games adds a chasing advantage. Even though it does not host Test matches, it still hosts the Ranji Trophy matches for Odisha. For red ball cricket, the pitches tend to slow down and deteriorate, giving privileges to the spinners. Normally for T20Is and ODIS, they prepare the pitch by mixing red soil and Kathjodi (local black soil). For the first T20I, this type of pitch has been chosen, hoping for a high-scoring contest. The Gradual decline from relevance The Barabati Stadium once hosted two world Cup matches, one in 1987 between Australia and Zimbabwe and one in 1966 between India and Kenya. However, its relevance in Test history is short-lived. So far, it hosted two Test matches, one of which witnessed Dilip Vengsarkar's 166 runs against Sri Lanka, when the entire Indian team rattled down. In the other Test (1955-96) Narendra Hirwani took 6 for 59 in New Zealand’s only innings — best bowling figures recorded at this venue. However, the Test was later washed away as rain flooded the field. However, with time, several management and facilities defects brought the stadium into the news, being the ultimate reasons why the stadium has been neglected for international games. The lack of upgrades to infrastructure: As of 2025, experts highlight that the stadium’s electrical and lighting systems are “critically outdated.” Floodlights depend on diesel generator power; there is no proper underground cabling or dedicated grid supply — a glaring deficiency compared to modern stadium standards. The floodgate issue was noted during the India-England ODI in 2025 February, when floodlight failure caused a ~30-minute match interruption. Mismanagement issues: There have been complaints about VIP / complimentary passes being over-issued, leaving paying fans unable to get tickets — eroding public trust and resulting in fewer spectators from among the general public. Competition from better-equipped newer stadiums: As cricket infrastructure expanded in other cities with modern facilities, many marquee matches (IPL, high-profile ODIs/T20s) shifted away from Barabati. Administrative inertia and lack of consistent renovation: Although there was talk of redevelopment, in early 2025 the state government reportedly had no active plan for renovating the stadium. Future Aspects: Will Barabati Stadium be extinct? It has historically been a multi‑sport and multi‑use venue; apart from cricket and football, Barabati has hosted athletics, hockey, cultural events, concerts, and social gatherings. For instance, the state‑level football competition FAO Super Cup and the historic Kalinga Cup (football tournament) have used Barabati as a venue. Under Odisha’s “5T Transformation initiative,” there’s a proposal to transform Barabati into a world-class sports campus. Plans include expanded seating (up to 60,000), improved infrastructure — galleries, access, parking, spectator facilities like food courts and washrooms — and dedicated spaces for multiple sports disciplines besides cricket. However, as of 2025, due to safety and structural concerns (age of stadium), authorities have proposed reducing seating — removing around 2,500 seats and widening seat width (from 19″ to 22″) to ensure spectator comfort and safety. According to administrators, the intent is not to demolish the heritage in its entirety, but to rebuild/renovate while preserving legacy aspects. They seem open to shifting other sports to alternate venues to allow major rework, but want to retain cricket in Barabati once upgraded. For this to materialize, the local governing body, OCA, is seeking government support along with leveraging funds and infrastructural grants to ensure Barabati remains relevant. The Stadium that once carried the heritage of the sport, is now growing old. The bones are tethered, and it's the new generation who would decide if they want to relive the memories, and keep it moving or not. As Piku once said about her ailing father, "ek age ke baad parents apne aap zinda nahi reh paate. Unko zinda rakhna padta hai. Aur woh zimmedaari bachhon ka hi hai."