Cricket, often termed as a religion in India, has a profound ancestry that even goes back to the colonial times. The passion of Indians toward the sport can very well be reflected in the number of stadiums that hold the cricket matches. Among some of these oldest structures, we shall check into the Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India, looking into their rich history and significance in the cricketing world. Not just a ground for playing, the Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India is actually a testament to how cricket started transforming on the subcontinent. Dozens of historical moments in these grounds have ranged from the first Test victory by India to recording-breaking performances that shaped the country's cricketing legacy. So, in telling you about the oldest cricket stadiums in India, we'll find the stories behind these venues and their contribution to Indian cricket. Top 5 Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India Sr. No Name of the Stadium City Date of Establishment 1 Eden Gardens Kolkata 1864 2 Arun Jaitley Stadium (Formerly Feroz Shah Kotla) Delhi 1883 3 M.A. Chidambaram Stadium Chennai 1916 4 Brabourne Stadium Mumbai 1937 5 Green Park Stadium Kanpur 1945 Eden Gardens Image Source : Wikipedia At the top of the list of Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India comes the most glamorous Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Founded by Governor-General Auckland in 1864, Eden Gardens is a venue that not only claims to be the oldest in the country but also one of the most respected cricket grounds in the land. Key features of Eden Gardens: - Have hosted the most number of Test and ODI matches in India, so great electricity and crowd factor. - Pitch sometimes friendly to batsmen in limited overs and sometimes spinning-friendly for Test cricket. - The venue for several landmark matches, including a very famous Test between India and Australia in 2001. Apart from its age, Eden Gardens is of paramount importance as it has hosted 42 Test matches and 40 ODIs and 12 T20Is. The advantage of its seating capacity for such a huge crowd makes the stadium a cauldron of experience. Arun Jaitley Stadium Image Source : HD Sports Next on our list is the Arun Jaitley Stadium located in Delhi which was earlier called Feroz Shah Kotla Ground. Founded in 1883 by Sultan Feroz Shah, this is one of the Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India that has been significant for the cricketing journey of the country. Notable facts of the Arun Jaitley Stadium: Capacity: 38,000 viewers Pitches will assist the spinner Played 37 Tests, 33 ODIs, and 14 T20Is The average first innings score in ODIs is 239 runs. The Arun Jaitley Stadium has seen so many match-winning performances. Of course, today it is used as a very important venue for international cricket. Its tricky pitches, which favor the turners and medium pacers, bring excitement to the matches played here. Also Read | Virat Kohli vs Steve Smith: Who is a Better Batsman? M.A. Chidambaram Stadium Image Source : ZAP Cricket The third in our travels through the Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India is the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, more commonly known as Chepauk. Constructed in 1916, this is one of the grounds that will hold an almost insurmountable place in Indian cricket history. What to remember about M.A. Chidambaram Stadium: The first Test that India won, way back in 1952. Favored venue for the spinners. Area near the sea lays havoc with the playing conditions. Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise homes. Chepauk's track is said to be one that bounces unevenly and offers tremendous spin, and this always makes it a challenge for visiting teams; the stadium by the sea makes it add another element in which the game is played with moisture turning all the shows on many occasions of the first innings. Brabourne Stadium Image Source : HD Sports The fourth of the Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India is Brabourne Stadium located at Mumbai. Established in 1937, it was patterned after the famous Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Key Features of Brabourne Stadium: - Staged 18 Tests, 20 ODIs and hosted 11 T20I - Solar energy panels installed on roof - It provides a beautiful ground for a match played here with square boundaries - Still its distance is 1 km away from Wankhede Stadium. The surface for a cricket match is well and is said to be good for batsmen. Once in a while, the surface provides some unhurried turnaround as well. In 2010, Mumbai Indians made the Brabourne Stadium their home and managed to win 6 out of the 7 home matches played here. In the 2014 eliminator held, the Mumbai Indians scored 173 in their innings while in reply, the Chennai Super Kings reached the target with ease in the 19th over, losing only 3 wickets. Despite the adjacent construction of a stadium, Wankhede Stadium, Brabourne remained alive in Indian cricket. Its penchant towards green energy, where solar panels are provided to cover 50% of its roof area, acted as a role model in the design of future stadiums. Green Park Stadium Image Source : Timeline Daily The concluding in the list of the Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India is the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. Formed way back in 1945, it was actually built for football but eventually became an iconic cricket venue. Key features of the Green Park Stadium: - It has a capacity to seat 32,000 spectators - A cricketing event held primarily for Test matches and ODIs - Foggy conditions prevail mainly during winters - Played 24 Tests, 15 ODIs and 1 T20I The square at the Green Park is usually deemed slow and low, as the soil quality here is not of the highest order. Other than being a track that is batting-friendly, the pitches here also tend to favor spin bowling quite a bit since there isn't much pace. Green Park Stadium has been an important center of Test cricket in India. Its peculiar climatic conditions, the early morning fogs in winters perhaps add an extra challenge that makes cricket wonderfully interesting to play and be watched. Also Read | Top 12 Women Cricketers With Most Hundreds in ODI | Century Queens Conclusion The Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India are more than mere stadia as such, and they are rather historic repositories of cricketing history and culture. Whether it is the sacred land of Eden Gardens or the emerging cricketing arena of Chepauk, all these facilities have contributed significantly to the growth of cricket in the country. Taking a glance at India cricket's future, wherein T20 leagues are mushrooming and new facilities come up in the country, we need to remember and preserve these Oldest Cricket Stadiums in India. This depicts the history cricket carries with it and inspires generations of cricketers and cricket enthusiasts going forward. Whether you are a cricket aficionado or just a spectator, visits to the oldest cricket stadiums in India afford an unparalleled opportunity to bond into Indian cricket heritage. In its telling, each ground comes with its stories and collectively provides the bedrock of the sporting fraternity of India, reminding every country of the journey from colonial past time to national passion.
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