Top 10 Largest Cricket Stadiums in the World
Narendra Modi Stadium can seat more people than the entire population of most small cities — and it’s not even close to a one-off. Six of the ten largest cricket grounds on earth are now in India, a reflection of just how fast the country’s stadium infrastructure has scaled over the last decade.
Largest Cricket Stadiums in the World
| Rank | Stadium | Location | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad, India | 132,000 |
| 2 | Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) | Melbourne, Australia | 100,024 |
| 3 | Eden Gardens | Kolkata, India | 66,000 |
| 4 | Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium | Raipur, India | 65,000 |
| 5 | Optus Stadium | Perth, Australia | 61,266 |
| 6 | Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | Hyderabad, India | 55,000 |
| 7 | Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) | Sydney, Australia | 48,000 |
| 8 | Gaddafi Stadium | Lahore, Pakistan | 35,000 |
| 9 | Newlands Cricket Ground | Cape Town, South Africa | 25,000 |
| 10 | Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium | Abu Dhabi, UAE | 20,000 |
1) Narendra Modi Stadium — 132,000
Ahmedabad, India
The largest cricket stadium ever built, and by a huge margin. Formerly known as Motera Stadium, the ₹800 crore rebuild features 76 corporate boxes, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and a 55-room on-site clubhouse. It hosted the 2023 World Cup final and regularly draws crowds beyond six figures for IPL and international fixtures involving India.
2) Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) — 100,024
Melbourne, Australia
The spiritual home of Australian cricket, and the largest stadium in the Southern Hemisphere. First opened in 1853, the MCG hosted the first-ever Test match in 1877, the 1992 World Cup final, and the 1956 Olympic Games opening ceremony. It remains the benchmark against which every other cricket ground is measured for sheer atmosphere on Boxing Day.
3) Eden Gardens — 66,000
Kolkata, India
India’s oldest and most storied cricket ground, dating to 1864. Eden Gardens hosted the 1987 World Cup final and has recorded crowds exceeding 100,000 in its pre-renovation era, including an unofficial 110,564 for the 1996 World Cup semi-final between India and Sri Lanka. Kapil Dev took his 432nd Test wicket here, and Sunil Gavaskar reached 10,000 Test runs on the same ground.
4) Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium — 65,000
Raipur, India
Central India’s largest cricket venue, opened in 2017 and named after a leader of the 1857 uprising. Built with sustainability as a core design principle, it hosted India’s first-ever Test against Afghanistan in 2018 and has quickly become one of the country’s busiest venues for IPL and international fixtures.
5) Optus Stadium — 61,266
Perth, Australia
Opened in 2018, Optus Stadium became Australia’s premier cricket venue almost immediately, hosting India’s first match there and the first-ever LED floodlit international in the country. With 150 corporate suites and wide open concourses, it’s built as much for crowd flow as for capacity, and its acoustics make it one of the most atmospheric night-match venues in the world.
6) Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium — 55,000
Hyderabad, India
Home to the Hyderabad Cricket Association and IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad, this Uppal venue set a Guinness World Record for the highest attendance at a cricket match during a 2013 India vs Australia ODI. Sachin Tendulkar’s and Kumar Sangakkara’s quotes are displayed pitchside, and the stadium is renowned as one of the most difficult grounds in the world for visiting teams to play in front of.
7) Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) — 48,000
Sydney, Australia
One of the oldest grounds still in active use, dating to 1854. The SCG hosted the first-ever Test between Australia and England in 1882 and has staged more World Cup finals than any other venue. It’s remembered for the infamous 1981 underarm bowling incident and for Shane Warne’s 700th Test wicket in 2006. SCG members retain the historic privilege of bringing their own food, drinks, and umbrellas into the ground.
8) Gaddafi Stadium — 35,000
Lahore, Pakistan
Pakistan’s largest cricket venue, formerly known as Lahore Stadium before its 1974 renaming. It hosted the 1996 World Cup final, in which Sri Lanka beat Australia, and witnessed Imran Khan’s career-best bowling figures of 8/60 against India in 1982. A major renovation completed in early 2025 ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy nearly doubled the stadium’s capacity, adding roughly 10,000 new seats along with upgraded LED lighting and hospitality facilities.
9) Newlands Cricket Ground — 25,000
Cape Town, South Africa
Widely considered South Africa’s most scenic cricket venue, set against the backdrop of Table Mountain. Newlands has hosted more than 100 South African Test matches and was the site of South Africa’s most famous ODI run chase, overhauling Australia’s 434 to win 438/9 in 2006. JP Duminy became the first South African bowler to take an ODI hat-trick here in 2011.
10) Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium — 20,000
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Opened in 2004, Sheikh Zayed Stadium has become one of the UAE’s premier neutral-venue cricket grounds, hosting everything from Pakistan’s home fixtures to franchise leagues like the ILT20. It staged the first-ever day-night Test match, between Australia and Pakistan in 2014, and its floodlit evening atmosphere has made it a regular host for international cricket relocated away from its usual home venues.