The refurbished Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera will be now called the 'Narendra Modi Stadium'. The facility, which was closed for renovation in 2015, was witness to some major milestones in Indian cricket in its previous avatar. These included Sunil Gavaskar reaching the 10,000 runs mark in Test cricket against Pakistan in 1987 and Kapil Dev claiming his 432nd Test wicket to become the highest wicket-taker in the world in 1994, surpassing Sir Richard Hadlee. (Photo | AFP)
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.jpg "The 'upgraded' Motera stadium can accommodate an awe-inspiring 1.32 lakh spectators. (Photo | AFP)")
The 'upgraded' Motera stadium can accommodate an awe-inspiring 1.32 lakh spectators. (Photo | AFP)
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Spread over 63 acres, the stadium has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 800 crore. (Photo | AFP)
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Motera has surpassed the hallowed Melbourne Cricket Ground which can accommodate 90,000. IN PIC: A large crowd attends the MCG to watch the Boxing Day match. (Photo | AFP)
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.jpg "According to an official statement, the total area of the Motera stadium 'is equivalent to 32 Olympic size soccer fields put together'. (Photo | AFP)")
According to an official statement, the total area of the Motera stadium 'is equivalent to 32 Olympic size soccer fields put together'. (Photo | AFP)
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.jpg "Australian architect firm Populous, which designed the Melbourne Cricket Stadium among others, is the architect of the new stadium. (Photo | AFP)")
Australian architect firm Populous, which designed the Melbourne Cricket Stadium among others, is the architect of the new stadium. (Photo | AFP)
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The sports complex in the stadium is not for just cricket but other disciplines including football, hockey, basketball, kabbadi, boxing, and lawn tennis among others. (Photo| Twitter/ @bcci)
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.jpg "Instead of high mast floodlights, the field of play has LED lights fixed along the perimeter of the roof providing shadow-less light -- a first of its kind arrangement in India.")
Instead of high mast floodlights, the field of play has LED lights fixed along the perimeter of the roof providing shadow-less light -- a first of its kind arrangement in India.
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.jpg "This is the only cricket stadium in the world to have four dressing rooms for the players so that back-to-back games can be played on the same day. (Photo | AFP)")
This is the only cricket stadium in the world to have four dressing rooms for the players so that back-to-back games can be played on the same day. (Photo | AFP)
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The Motera stadium has 11 pitches made of both red and black soil and is the only stadium in the world to have same soil surfaces for the main and practice pitches. (Photo| Twitter/ @bcci)
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The ground claims to have a drainage system that will take just 30 minutes from the time it stops raining to drain out the water. (Photo | ECB)
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.jpg "Motera also has a cricket academy, indoor practice pitches, and two separate practice grounds with small pavilion area. (Photo| Twitter/ @bcci)")
Motera also has a cricket academy, indoor practice pitches, and two separate practice grounds with small pavilion area. (Photo| Twitter/ @bcci)
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