Next for Magnificent Motera stadium - Honouring Indian cricket greats

BCCI secretary Jay Shah (right) with Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju at the Sardar Patel Stadium yesterday. Pic/Harit N Joshi

The grandeur matches the hype as the world's largest cricket stadium gets ready to host its first international match today when India take on England at the refurbished Sardar Patel Stadium at Motera, near Ahmedabad. However, as far as one cricketing aspect - honouring cricketers - is concerned, let's say work is in progress.

The north and south pavilions bear the names of India's top corporates Reliance and Adani, but the stands, gates and the dressing rooms are yet to be named.

A senior Gujarat Cricket Association official assured that they will be named after cricketers. "We have not named them because we have not been able to decide whether to name the stands, gates and dressing rooms after Gujarat cricketers or all-time great Indian cricketers. But for sure, we will name them after cricketers," the official told mid-day on Tuesday.

The entrance to the ground has a Hall of Fame with cricket memorabilia and vintage pictures adorning the cabinets and walls. The ground, boasting of a 1,10,1000-capacity has been permitted to allow 55,000 spectators for the day-night Test. An uninterrupted view is something to look forward to on the ground.

One of the features of the stadium is that it can be accessible to the physically challenged as well. Five hundred physically challenged spectators have been invited, said a GCA official. The dressing rooms have gyms attached to it.

Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India, is expected to inaugurate the stadium before flying out to New Delhi. Sports minister Kiren Rijiju was also highly impressed with the facilities at the stadium. "It is a moment of great pride for India to have the world's largest cricket stadium. And not only this, it also has a multi-sports complex," he said.