Cricket fans keep talking about the cricketers and the team selection and whatnot. They also talk about the commentators and coaches at times but the one thing which most cricket fans don’t talk about is the stadiums or the grounds where the game is being played. Even though most of the grounds look pretty similar on television each one is very different from the other.
There have been many great stadiums in India where the fans create an unbelievable atmosphere. So, on that note let’s have a look at the top five grounds in India each decade.
1980s – Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai
Many matches were played at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai in the 1980s but the most famous one was the tied Test between India and Australia in 1986. A couple of World Cup matches were played at the Wankhede Stadium in 1987. Wankhede and Chepauk both the grounds hosted 11 matches in the 1980s.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi did host the same number of games as Chepauk and Wankhede – 11 matches in the 1980s, but it hosted games with high-quality teams like England and Australia. The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore hosted a couple of good Tests between India and Pakistan but overall it hosted only 8 games – 4 Tests and 4 ODIs in the 1980s. Eden Gardens hosted the most number of matches – 6 Tests and 6 ODIs in the 1980s decade.
1990s – Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Mohali
The IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali got to host a Test match for the first time in the 1990s, and it also hosted many ODIs from the Independence Cup. Mohali hosted a total of 10 games in this time period. The Wankhede Stadium hosted five Tests and seven ODIs in the 1990s.
Delhi was the host to the famous Test in 1999 when Anil Kumble picked up all the ten Pakistan wickets. The Arun Jaitely stadium hosted 12 matches in the 1990s. India had a good record at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the 1990s in both Tests and ODIs as 14 games were played at this venue. Eden Gardens at Kolkata hosted the infamous semi-final between India and Sri Lanka where the seats were set on fire and Sri Lanka won the game by default. A total of 19 games were hosted at this venue in the 1990s.
2000s – Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mohali, Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad hosted 6 Test matches in the 2000s which is more than what they had hosted before that. India was bowled for 76 in one of those Tests against South Africa. Many one-day games from the 2006 Champions Trophy were played at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. Mohali hosted 16 games during this time period.
India played 9 Tests at Chennai in the 2000s, and they also hosted a couple of games between Asia XI and World XI. 17 games were played at the Chepauk during this time period. India didn’t enjoy playing Test cricket at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in the 2000s as they lost quite a few games. Chinnaswamy hosted 20 games in the 2000s which is three more than Chepauk. Once again Eden Gardens hosted the most number of matches – 21 in the 2000s decade.
2010s – Kolkata, Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur
The new stadium in Nagpur got many matches as they hosted the 2011 World Cup games along with three India-Australia ODIs. Nagpur was the only venue where India lost in the 2011 World Cup. India even lost their first T20 World Cup game in 2016 at Nagpur. 21 matches were played at this venue in this time period. Wankhede Stadium hosted the famous 2011 World Cup final in which India lifted the World Cup after 28 years. It was a night to remember for all the players and Indian cricket fans. Overall 24 games were played at the Wankhede Stadium in this decade.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi had its problem as a Test match between India and Sri Lanka was constantly stopped due to the quality of the air. The Arun Jaitely Stadium hosted a total of 30 games in this decade. The Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore hosted the famous Ireland-England game where Ireland chased down a 300+ total, and they also hosted the India-England tied World Cup game. In 2016, the India-Bangladesh T20I game which was a heartbreak for the Bangladesh fans where they lost three wickets in the last three balls was also played at this venue. The stadium in Bangalore hosted 34 matches in this decade.
Eden Gardens hosted India vs Pakistan game in the 2016 T20 World Cup, and they also hosted the Final of the same event where Carlos Braithwaite smashed four sixes off the last four balls to help West Indies win the World T20. Eden Gardens also became the first ground to host the first Pink Ball Test in India in 2019. Eden Gardens kept its number one position in the Indian grounds as it hosted 40 games in this decade.
