Produced by: Tarun Mishra
Designed by: Manoj Kumar
The 13th edition of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup is set to grace ten iconic venues across India, drawing thousands of fans from Dharamshala to Bangalore who are eager to witness the pinnacle of the global cricketing spectacle. Let's take you on a tour of all ten venues that will host this exciting cricket extravaganza.
Located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, the Narendra Modi Stadium stands as the largest cricket stadium globally, boasting an impressive seating capacity of 134,000 spectators. It is set to host the opening match, an India vs. Pakistan thriller, and the grand finale of the 13th ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. There are a total of five pitches with black soil and six pitches with red soil at the venue. The black soil pitches provide superior bounce in contrast to the red soil pitches, which tend to dry out more quickly.
Expect high-scoring innings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, known for its smaller boundaries. This stadium witnessed Kevin O'Brien's lightning-fast hundred in the 2011 World Cup, and it has been home to India's National Cricket Academy, nurturing international talents. The stadium can accommodate over 40,000 people.
Situated by the Indian Ocean, the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai offers one of the most humid climates among all venues. It's where India registered its first Test cricket victory in 1952 and hosted the first-ever tied Test match between India and Australia in 1986. The capacity of the venue is close to 50,000. M Chinnaswamy Stadium's pitch is renowned as a batting paradise, characterized by flat wickets that favor batsmen, allowing them to dominate the game and score boundaries with ease. When it comes to bowling, fast bowlers tend to have better records at this venue compared to spin bowlers.
Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium is steeped in history, where Sachin Tendulkar broke records in 2005. While it was once known for slow pitches, recent renovations have injected pace into the games. Delhi’s stadium has a capacity of 41,000 people.
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala offers spectacular view of the Himalayas and a 64-meter boundary for high scoring matches. However, the HPCA stadium is renowned for its pitch that doesn't favour batting. Instead, it provides an advantage to fast-paced bowlers in challenging batsmen and restricting the overall scores. Frequently, teams chasing a match struggle on this pitch during the second innings, primarily due to its bowler-friendly nature. Dharamsala Stadium can fit in 23,000 people.
Eden Gardens in Kolkata, once India's largest venue, hosted the World Cup final in 1987. Its lively pitch and breezy conditions by the Hooghly River are sure to deliver stunning ODI clashes and a World Cup semi-final. Kolkata’s stadium can accommodate close to 66,000 people. The pitch at Eden Gardens is well-regarded for providing a favourable batting surface, although as the match progresses, spinners tend to become more influential. Spin bowlers have found success in IPL matches played here as well.
Built in 2017, Lucknow's Ekana Cricket Stadium is relatively new to international cricket. Extensive renovations have prepared it for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023, where it will host its first-ever World Cup fixture, Australia vs. South Africa. Ekana has a seating capacity of 50,000 people. At Ekana Cricket Stadium, the presence of black soil pitches primarily benefits fast bowlers, although spinners are anticipated to play a significant role during the middle overs of the game.
Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, known as India's 'cricket capital,' is another colossal venue. It has witnessed monumental moments, from Sachin Tendulkar's brilliance in the 1996 World Cup to Ajaz Patel's historic 10-wicket haul. The capacity of Wankhede Stadium is 32,000 spectators. The Wankhede Stadium's pitch in Mumbai is commonly acknowledged for its favourability towards batsmen, particularly in limited-overs formats such as T20s.
The MCA International Stadium in Pune, nestled on the outskirts, is known for producing high scores. Having gained Test status in 2016, it will host its first 2023 ICC Men's World Cup match when India faces Bangladesh. MCA can accommodate nearly 37,000 attendees. MCA Stadium is renowned for its high-scoring pitches, thanks to the red soil that provides excellent bounce and is ideal for batting. The highest ODI score recorded at this venue occurred in 2017 when India scored 256/7 against England.
Before the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was built in 2005, Hyderabad's cricket was centred at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium. With a capacity of 39,200, this venue has grown in popularity over 18 years and is associated with the Sunrisers Hyderabad's IPL success. Hyderabad’s stadium can fit in 55,000 people. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium typically witnesses a favourable batting pitch, with an average first innings score of 277. In the second innings, the average score slightly decreases to 250.