According to the reports, Narendra Modi Stadium will host The Final of the Cricket World Cup 2023. Previously, the Stadium had already hosted the IPL final in 2022, where it registered itself in the Guinness Book of World Records for having the largest crowd in a single game. The final match at the Stadium recorded a match attendance of 101,566 spectators. 

The ICC T20 World Cup 2023 will be the 13th edition of the 50-over tournament. For India, this is the 4th time that the cricket’s mega competition will be held in the country. India has previously played host to the Cricket World Cup in 1987, 1996, and 2011. 

The Narendra Modi Stadium is the frontrunner for hosting the final match of the 2023 World Cup final.

Cricket T20 World Cup 2023 will consist of 10 teams competing in a round robin fashion in a single group wherein top four teams will qualify for the semifinal.

History of Narendra Modi Stadium

Narendra Modi Stadium was previously known as Gujarat Stadium & Sardar Patel Stadium. Before 1982, the ground was named Gujrat Stadium. In 1982, the Gujarat Government donated 100-acre land  to build a stadium in the name of  Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (India’s first Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister). The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel stadium took 9 months to get completed. Since then, many international cricket matches have been hosted here. 

The Sardar Patel stadium hosted its first-ever ODI in 1984-1985 between Australia and India, where Australia defeated India. In February 2021, the stadium was renamed as Narendra Modi Stadium from Motera Stadium by the Gujarat Cricket Association in the name of current Prime Minister Narendra Damodar Modi after major renovation work.  

What Is So Special About Narendra Modi Stadium?

After major renovation work, today, the Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket stadium in the world. Here are a few other special things to note in the iconic stadium. 

1. It has a capacity of 1,32,000 people, which by seating capacity is the second largest stadium in the world and for cricket, the largest stadium.
2. A mind boggling 800 crores have been spent to build and renovate the stadium. It was closed for a period of six years from 2015 to 2021 for renovation.
3. It has one of the largest parking facilities alongside. More than 3000 cars and 10000 bikes can be parked in this stadium parking area.
4. The stadium has around 76 corporate boxes which are also known as VIP boxes which offer magnificent views of the field and come with many other amenities. 
5. Narendra Modi Stadium is the only stadium in India that offers LED lights during Nights matches.
6. The stadium occupies around 63 acres of land and has an indoor cricket academy along with indoor pitches and many other facilities for first class cricketers.
7. It is the first stadium to have 4 dressing rooms. The stadium also provides an advanced drainage system technique. This enhanced drainage system allows rain interrupted matches to begin in less than 30 minutes after rainfall.
8. The stadium is well connected with the Ahmedabad metro station, thus making it convenient for people to reach the stadium easily.

Iconic Moments At the Narendra Modi Stadium Over the Years

Narendra Modi Stadium has offered some great memories for cricket fans over the years. Here is a recollection of some of the most iconic moments that have taken place at the venue:-

1. Kapil Dev broke Richard Hadlee’s record by taking his 432nd wicket in test cricket. 
2. Sachin Tendulkar scored his first ever 200 runs in test cricket in 1999 against New Zealand.
3. Sachin Tendulkar completed his 20 years in International cricket at this stadium. India was playing against Sri Lanka in 2009 at that time.
4. AB De Villiers scored his first ever 200 runs in test cricket in 2008.
5. Sunil Gavaskar reached a milestone of scoring 10,000 runs in test cricket at this venue. The match was held against Pakistan in 1987.

Final Words

ICC T20 World Cup 2023 will be held next year during the months of October and November. ICC is yet to decide the exact date of the final. Surely, the council’s selection of Narendra Modi Stadium as the venue for the final is a big occasion.

A brand new stadium, a record seating capacity, and hosting the most memorable match of cricket, the World Cup Final will be an everlasting memory for the fans. 

The dates for official ticket sale of the World Cup 2023 is yet to be announced. However, one can expect millions of fans across India pushing to buy a ticket to witness one of cricket’s greatest matches at one of the most iconic stadiums in the world.