India will be playing the remaining two Tests and all of the five T20Is against England at the new Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad
After hosting the knockouts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last month, the newly built Motera Stadium readies itself to host international cricket for the first time. India and England arrive at the Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) Stadium being tied 1-1 in the series. The remaining two matches of the four-match series will take place in the Stadium, followed by the five T20Is next month. The first match taking place at the ground will be the pink-ball Test starting next week.
As the two teams started their training in full swing before the game, the players couldn't stop raving about the cricket stadium with the highest capacity in the world. Not just the Indian players, the visitors too were astonished by the beauty of the newly-renovated stadium in the city.
1. Motera Stadium - Largest Capacity
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The newly renovated Motera Stadium has become the largest cricket stadium in the world with a capacity of 1,10,000. The Stadium has now leapfrogged the iconic Melbourne Cricket Stadium (MCG), which previously held the record for the highest capacity of 90,000. Motera also surpassed the Eden Gardens in Kolkata to have the highest capacity for a cricket stadium in India, which can have 70,000 people. (Image: BCCI)
2. Hardik Pandya
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The Gujarat lad couldn't hold his feelings back as he took to his social media to appreciate the world's largest stadium and shared a selfie with the ground. He wrote, "It feels surreal to be out here at the world’s largest cricket stadium, Motera.
It feels surreal to be out here at the world’s largest cricket stadium, Motera.
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) February 19, 2021
Absolutely magnificent @JayShah @GCAMotera @mpparimal @DhanrajNathwani pic.twitter.com/EL8l7G4hFj
Pandya further added, lauding the excellent training facility that if the stadium wasn't enough alone, the high-performance gym surpassed all the expectations.
As if the stadium in itself wasn’t enough.. the high performance gym setup and surpassed all expectations. Magnificent! @imVkohli @RishabhPant17 @ImIshant @akshar2026 @DhanrajNathwani @mpparimal @JayShah pic.twitter.com/0P90vy9ZHQ
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) February 19, 2021
3. Axar Patel
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The local boy Axar Patel couldn't hold his emotions as he was delighted to be back at the place where it all began for him in the first place. Taking to his social media, Patel wrote, "Absolutely thrilled to be back where it all began. What a masterpiece the largest stadium in the world has turned out to be. Right from playing conditions to a high performance training setup. This place is second to none @BCCI (sic)."
Absolutly thrilld to b bck whr it all bgan.Wht a mastrpiece the lrgest in the wrld hs trned out to b.Right frm plying cnditions to an high prformnce training setup.This plce is secnd to none@BCCI @GCAMotera @JayShah @mpparimal @imVkohli @hardikpandya7 @ImIshant @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/cfMx9W4OLd
— Akshar Patel (@akshar2026) February 19, 2021
4. Rishabh Pant
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The wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant couldn't hold his excitement and looked forward to taking the field next week at the fantastic stadium. Rishabh wrote, "Fantastic to be at the new facility in Motera, great to see such world class facilities for cricket in Ahmedabad. Looking forward to taking the field here on 24th."
Fantastic to be at the new facility in Motera, great to see such world class facilities for cricket in Ahmedabad. Looking forward to taking the field here on 24th. @BCCI @JayShah pic.twitter.com/d15O7afdeB
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) February 19, 2021
Rishabh also shared the picture of the first training session alongside a few members of the team including skipper Virat Kohli.
Great to have our first gym training session with the team at the new Motera stadium @BCCI #Motera #RP17 #17 pic.twitter.com/3c4cEkrVxn
— Rishabh Pant (@RishabhPant17) February 19, 2021
5. Stuart Broad
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If the hosts weren't enough, the newly rebuilt stadium also received appreciation from the tourists. England fast bowler Stuart Broad was in awe of the largest cricket stadium. He shared a video on his social media, of him arriving inside the stadium from the entrance giving the overall view of the stadium. Broad wrote, "1st look at Cricket’s largest stadium 110,000 capacity pretty impressive."
1st look at Cricket’s largest stadium 110,000 capacity pretty impressive pic.twitter.com/TvkPmti8y5
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 19, 2021
6. Ben Stokes
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All-rounder Ben Stokes too lauded the Ahmedabad Stadium sharing the training montage of the England team. While the players were having their warm-ups, India's national song 'Vande Matram' was playing in the background, which also received a mention from the star player. Stokes wrote, "Some stadium this is......and a bit of local music to help get through to the end."
Some stadium this is......and a bit of local music to help get through to the end https://t.co/FTrS8sTWHJ
— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) February 19, 2021
