The Oldest Cricket Stadium In India: Exploring The Legacy

Cricket in India is a religion, a legacy, a cultural phenomenon and almost a cult. Eden Gardens, the oldest cricket stadium in India, is a testament to the country’s undying love for the game.

If you miss watching an international match live, the next day you will be met with astonished faces staring at you in disbelief and disappointment saying “Kal ka match dekha? Nahi dekha?! Kya yar!” before they move on to someone else who has seen the match and can discuss the various centuries, sixes and ‘epic moments’ with them.

Such passion materialises and multiples when fans come together to watch India play live in a stadium.

Eden Gardens serves this purpose well. It is not only the oldest cricket stadium in India but also the second-largest cricket stadium in India and the third-largest in the world.

Oldest Cricket Stadiums In India

While Eden Gardens is the oldest stadium in the country, India is home to several other historic grounds that are a huge part of our legacy as a premier cricketing nation. These are some of the oldest cricket stadiums in India:

Stadium Names	Year of Establishment
Eden Gardens, Kolkata	1864
Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi	1883
M. A. Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk), Chennai	1916
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai	1975
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru	1969
Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali	1993
Sardar Patel Stadium (Motera), Ahmedabad	1983
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad	2003

Eden Gardens: Mecca of Indian Cricket

Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, Eden Gardens is one of the most historic international cricket stadiums in India. Over the years, it has become a pilgrimage destination for cricket fans and international players alike.

Because of its rich legacy and an esteemed place in the Indian Cricket Landscape, Eden Gardens has been called the ‘Mecca of Indian Cricket’ and ‘Cricket’s Answer to The Colosseum”.

Aspiring cricket players dream of exhibiting their skills in the stadium one day and fans hope to watch a match sitting at this historic site. 

Also Read: Top 5 Largest Cricket Stadiums in India

History of the Oldest Cricket Stadium in India

One of the most revered cricket grounds in the world, Eden Gardens was inaugurated back in 1864 and is owned and controlled by the Cricket Association of Bengal. It also serves as the association’s headquarters.

It was initially named the Auckland Circus Gardens. The Garden was later renamed as the Eden Gardens. Legend says that it was named after the Eden girls, Emily and Fanny, sisters of the then Governor General of India, Lord Auckland. (1836-1842).

Eden Garden is also known as ‘the Mecca of Indian Cricket’ or ‘cricket’s answer to the Colosseum’. The stadium serves as the headquarters and is owned by the Cricket Association of Bengal.

Renovations and Expansions

The stadium could initially facilitate 40,000 spectators. However, during its renovation in 1987, in preparation for the World Cup, its seating capacity was expanded to 68,000, making it the second-largest cricket stadium in India and the third-largest cricket stadium in the world.

However, actual match day attendance has far surpassed this number proving yet again the extreme level of Cricket craze demonstrated by Indians. 

In the 1996, India vs Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup semi-finals, Eden Gardens witnessed an alarmingly high record crowd of 110,564 people. 

Historic matches at Eden Gardens

Since Eden Gardens is the oldest cricket stadium in India, it has hosted many memorable and significant cricketing events. 

In 1934, it hosted its first Test match, featuring India vs England. 

Since then, it has welcomed numerous national and international matches, including World Cup games. 

The 1983 Cricket World Cup semi-final, where India defeated England, is particularly etched in the memories of cricket fans, marking a pivotal moment in Indian cricket history.

One of the most iconic moments at Eden Gardens came during the 2001 Test match between India and Australia. India staged a remarkable comeback after being followed, with VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid leading the charge. 

This match is often regarded as one of the greatest Test matches in cricket history and showcases the resilience and talent of the Indian team.

Known for large passionate crowds of cricket fans, the stadium has hosted high-profile and historic matches including the World Cup, the Asia Cup and the ICC Twenty20s, along with internal matches of the Bengal Cricket Team and Kolkata Knight Riders. 

Cricket craze or madness?

It is such a uniquely Indian experience to be part of a crowd cheering together for Team India.

The craze is such that it feels almost illegal to not play or at least watch cricket with utmost passion and verve! 

Indian cricket fans do wonderful things for their beloved cricketers. After an epic victory, you can look out your window to see fans storming the streets, celebrating the victory. 

Stadiums come alive during cricket matches with the chants and cheers of these fans. They become living entities, rejoicing at every win and going silent at every failure.

This passion is such that sometimes it turns into borderline madness. The term ‘Die-hard fans’ ceases to be an exaggeration and turns into a scary reality. 

When stadiums are brimming with thousands of fans, they become possible sites of terrible accidents. Stampede-like situations can easily arise on these grounds causing tragedy and havoc. 

Eden Gardens witnessed one such deadly incident. On 16th August 1980, 16 people were killed in a stampede during a football league match. 

Future Redevelopment Plans for the Oldest Cricket Stadium In India 

The Oldest Cricket Stadium in India is now planning to undergo redevelopments that will transform the ground into a 21st-century state-of-the-art project while maintaining its heritage and architectural legacy. 

The project is going to be undertaken by the Global architectural firm “Populous” which is known for its successful recent project, the redevelopment of the Narendra Modi Stadium. 

As a result of the redevelopment project, the stadium’s capacity to facilitate spectators will be increased from 68,000 to an estimated 100,000 to accommodate more fans in upcoming matches. 

Conclusion

Even though cricket is a product of the colonial legacy, Indians have wholeheartedly adopted the sport with utmost love and admiration. 

Cricket Stadiums filled with thousands and sometimes lakhs of fans are a testament to this relationship.

Eden Gardens and other stadiums in India have proudly hosted the world’s finest, most famous cricketers.

These stadiums, fans and cricketers, all contribute towards making India one of the best cricketing nations in the world!