Revamped Motera stadium to have record one lakh seating capacity: GCA

Ahmedabad: After the reconstruction and make-over, the Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium here would be the biggest cricket stadium in the world in terms of seating capacity, Gujarat Cricket Association said here on Friday.

"In line with the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and GCA President Amit Shah, Sardar Patel cricket stadium will be converted into Melbourne-like cricket stadium, which will be the biggest cricket stadium in the world," said a joint statement by GCA vice president Parimal Nathwani and joint secretary Jay Shah.

The new stadium will have a seating capacity of 1,00,000.

The demolition of the current stadium, located in Motera area, started yesterday and will be completed in four months. The construction of the new stadium will take nearly two years, GCA said.

The design, construction plans and estimates of the new stadium were unanimously approved by GCA's executive committee, the release said.

Presently the stadium with its six pavilions has a capacity of 54,000, which was not enough in view of the rush of cricket fans during the matches, GCA said.

The stadium has witnessed many exciting moments in the cricket's history. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar became the first batsman to reach 10,000-run mark in this stadium.

Similarly, Kapil Dev claimed his 432nd Test wicket on this ground to become the highest wicket taker in the world, breaking?Sir Richard Hadlee's record.

Sachin Tendulkar scored his first double century in Test cricket on this ground.