Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
Encyclopedia
Sardar Patel Stadium is an Indian sports stadium
located in the Navrangpura locality of Ahmedabad
, Gujarat. It is sometimes referred as Sports Club of Gujarat Stadium. The stadium holds the honor of hosting the first ever One Day International match played in India. Once a new stadium
came up in Motera
in 1982, the Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel stadium hasn't been used for international cricket matches. The stadium is one of the home grounds of the Gujarat cricket team
that plays in domestic tournament of Ranji Trophy. It is equipped with floodlights for day-and-night games and is a regular venue during Indian domestic cricket season.
The Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel Stadium is owned by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
. The stadium is situated in the heart of the city. It is mainly used for Cricket, but it has also played host to a number of programs arranged by the Government of Gujarat
.
Sheth Chinubhai Chimanbhai, leading industrialist and former Mayor of Ahmedabad, went out of his way to hire the world renowned architect Charles Correa
to design both the Stadium and the Club House. Charles Correa, a master of modern progressive architecture also happens to be the designer of the Gandhi-Ashram
on the banks of Sabarmati River
, which is a standing physical manifestation of the Gandhian philosophy. As far as the stadium is concerned, the entire roof of the huge stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000, is designed to be supported on only one point! A unique cantilever, pillar-less stadium - the very first of its kind in India! Due to unforeseen circumstances, only one wing could be completed. Apart from Sheth Chinubhai Chimanbhai, the other founder members were Narottam K Jhaveri, Martandrai G. Shastri, Jayantilal Chimanlal Kusumgar, Jitendra Jiwanlal Thakore, Hariprasad Keshariprasad Thakore & Ramanlal C Parikh.
on November 25, 1981. The match was played between India
and England. The match was reduced to 46 overs. India scored 156 for 7. Dilip Vengsarkar
top scored with 46 runs. England replied with 160 for 5 and won the match by five wickets and 13 balls to spare. Mike Gatting
and Ian Botham
were unbeaten on 47 and 25 respectively. Once a new stadium
came up in Motera
in 1982, the Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel stadium hasn't been used for international cricket matches. The Motera Stadium now hosts all ODI Matches and Test Matches
in the city.
(ICL), the stadium was chosen as one of the venues for the tournament, others venues being Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula. Prior to the tournament the ICL spent Rs.100 million (Rs.10 crore) for renovation of the stadium and Rs.30-40 million for floodlights, apart from improving the pitch, outfield, and dressing rooms. The stadium hosted 12 matches during the T20 tournament. The stadium was scheduled to host all seven matches of ICL World Series, but the tournament was canceled after 4 matches due to the Mumbai terrorist attacks
.
In brilliantly synchronised multimedia show that began with fireworks, the story of Gujarat from pre-historic era, through the era of Siddhraj Jaisingh, sultan Ahmed Shah, the landing of Parsis at Sanjan and the separation from Bombay state to become a separate entity in 1960, was narrated before a jam packed crowd at the Sardar Patel stadium. There were at least 20,000 participants from across the country, doing the enactment of the state’s history based on a film that ran simultaneously. More than 50,000 spectators & VIPs came to the stadium to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the foundation of Gujarat state. Outside, a huge crowd, including bureaucrats, politicians and other VVIPs, struggled to be a part of the celebrations and got turned away by the security guards, because the stadium was packed far beyond its capacity. As news of the chaos and agitation spread, Chief Minister Narendra Modi
apologized and promised that the same programme would be repeated on Sunday for the benefit of those left out. The second day of the celebration also witnessed the same interest in terms of attendance.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
located in the Navrangpura locality of Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad also known as Karnavati is the largest city in Gujarat, India. It is the former capital of Gujarat and is also the judicial capital of Gujarat as the Gujarat High Court has its seat in Ahmedabad...
, Gujarat. It is sometimes referred as Sports Club of Gujarat Stadium. The stadium holds the honor of hosting the first ever One Day International match played in India. Once a new stadium
Sardar Patel Stadium
Sardar Patel Stadium is one of the premier Cricket stadiums of India located in the Motera locality of Ahmedabad. Because of its location, the stadium is commonly called Motera Stadium to avoid confusion with another stadium of the same name in Navrangpura locality of Ahmedabad. Sardar Patel...
came up in Motera
Motera
Motera is a census town in Gandhinagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Sardar Patel Stadium is located in Motera. This stadium is the venue for international cricket matches. From 19 January 2008 it is the part of Ahmedabad city under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.-Demographics:...
in 1982, the Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel stadium hasn't been used for international cricket matches. The stadium is one of the home grounds of the Gujarat cricket team
Gujarat cricket team
The Gujarat cricket team is one of three Ranji Trophy cricket teams representing the state of Gujarat . It was in the Elite Group of the Ranji Trophy although it has had very little success. There have, however, been many cricketers that have passed through its ranks and gone on to play for the...
that plays in domestic tournament of Ranji Trophy. It is equipped with floodlights for day-and-night games and is a regular venue during Indian domestic cricket season.
The Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel Stadium is owned by Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation or the AMC, established in July 1950 under the Bombay Provincial Corporation Act, 1949, is responsible for the civic infrastructure and administration of the city of Ahmedabad.-Vision:...
. The stadium is situated in the heart of the city. It is mainly used for Cricket, but it has also played host to a number of programs arranged by the Government of Gujarat
Government of Gujarat
The Government of Gujarat also known as the State Government of Gujarat, or locally as State Government, is the supreme governing authority of the Indian state of Gujarat and its 26 districts...
.
History and Development
In the early 1950s, the Province of Bombay gifted 80000 sq yards of land to the Cricket Club of Ahmedabad (CCA) to construct a grand Cricket Stadium and a Club House. CCA handed over the project as well as the land to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation at a token price. It was agreed to have a separate management for the Stadium and the Club House and that the original members of the CCA would form a new club, christened The Sports Club of Gujarat Ltd.Sheth Chinubhai Chimanbhai, leading industrialist and former Mayor of Ahmedabad, went out of his way to hire the world renowned architect Charles Correa
Charles Correa
Charles Correa is an Indian architect, planner and activist.-Early life:Charles Correa was born in Hyderabad, India...
to design both the Stadium and the Club House. Charles Correa, a master of modern progressive architecture also happens to be the designer of the Gandhi-Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram is located in the Ahmedabad suburb of Sabarmati adjoining to famous Ashram Road, at the bank of River Sabarmati, 4 miles from the town hall. This was one of the residences of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi...
on the banks of Sabarmati River
Sabarmati River
The Sabarmati River is a river in western India and one of the biggest rivers of north Gujarat. River Sabarmati is one of the major West flowing river of Gujarat which originates from Dhebar lake in Aravalli Range of the Udaipur District of Rajasthan and meets the Gulf of Cambay of Arabian Sea...
, which is a standing physical manifestation of the Gandhian philosophy. As far as the stadium is concerned, the entire roof of the huge stadium with a seating capacity of 50,000, is designed to be supported on only one point! A unique cantilever, pillar-less stadium - the very first of its kind in India! Due to unforeseen circumstances, only one wing could be completed. Apart from Sheth Chinubhai Chimanbhai, the other founder members were Narottam K Jhaveri, Martandrai G. Shastri, Jayantilal Chimanlal Kusumgar, Jitendra Jiwanlal Thakore, Hariprasad Keshariprasad Thakore & Ramanlal C Parikh.
International Cricket
The stadium hosted its only ODI Match and first ever played in IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on November 25, 1981. The match was played between India
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
and England. The match was reduced to 46 overs. India scored 156 for 7. Dilip Vengsarkar
Dilip Vengsarkar
Dilip Balwant Vengsarkar is an Indian cricketer and cricket administrator. He was one of the most stylish batsmen of his time, known as one of the foremost exponents of the drive. He was also known by the nickname 'Colonel'....
top scored with 46 runs. England replied with 160 for 5 and won the match by five wickets and 13 balls to spare. Mike Gatting
Mike Gatting
Michael "Mike" William Gatting OBE is a former English cricketer, who played first-class cricket for Middlesex and for England from 1977 to 1995, captaining the national side in twenty-three Test matches between 1986 and 1988...
and Ian Botham
Ian Botham
Sir Ian Terence Botham OBE is a former England Test cricketer and Test team captain, and current cricket commentator. He was a genuine all-rounder with 14 centuries and 383 wickets in Test cricket, and remains well-known by his nickname "Beefy"...
were unbeaten on 47 and 25 respectively. Once a new stadium
Sardar Patel Stadium
Sardar Patel Stadium is one of the premier Cricket stadiums of India located in the Motera locality of Ahmedabad. Because of its location, the stadium is commonly called Motera Stadium to avoid confusion with another stadium of the same name in Navrangpura locality of Ahmedabad. Sardar Patel...
came up in Motera
Motera
Motera is a census town in Gandhinagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. The Sardar Patel Stadium is located in Motera. This stadium is the venue for international cricket matches. From 19 January 2008 it is the part of Ahmedabad city under Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation.-Demographics:...
in 1982, the Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel stadium hasn't been used for international cricket matches. The Motera Stadium now hosts all ODI Matches and Test Matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
in the city.
Indian Cricket League
During 2008 season of Indian Cricket LeagueIndian Cricket League
The Indian Cricket League was a private cricket league funded by Zee Entertainment Enterprises that operated between 2007 and 2009 in India...
(ICL), the stadium was chosen as one of the venues for the tournament, others venues being Hyderabad, Gurgaon and Panchkula. Prior to the tournament the ICL spent Rs.100 million (Rs.10 crore) for renovation of the stadium and Rs.30-40 million for floodlights, apart from improving the pitch, outfield, and dressing rooms. The stadium hosted 12 matches during the T20 tournament. The stadium was scheduled to host all seven matches of ICL World Series, but the tournament was canceled after 4 matches due to the Mumbai terrorist attacks
2008 Mumbai attacks
The 2008 Mumbai attacks were more than 10 coordinated shooting and bombing attacks across Mumbai, India's largest city, by Islamist attackers who came from Pakistan...
.
Swarnim Gujarat
The stadium played host to Swarnim Gujarat fest, golden jubilee celebrations of the foundation of Gujarat state, on April 30 to May 1 2010. The dazzling show was put up at the Navrangpura stadium in the city. The stadium was decked up at the cost of Rs 5 crore. The renovation work included construction of public toilets, pathways, drinking water facilities and VIP foyer area inside the stadium. The civic body also made the stadium weather proof. The whole stadium was silicon painted. The transparent silicon paint will provide weather resistance mechanism to the building.In brilliantly synchronised multimedia show that began with fireworks, the story of Gujarat from pre-historic era, through the era of Siddhraj Jaisingh, sultan Ahmed Shah, the landing of Parsis at Sanjan and the separation from Bombay state to become a separate entity in 1960, was narrated before a jam packed crowd at the Sardar Patel stadium. There were at least 20,000 participants from across the country, doing the enactment of the state’s history based on a film that ran simultaneously. More than 50,000 spectators & VIPs came to the stadium to attend the golden jubilee celebrations of the foundation of Gujarat state. Outside, a huge crowd, including bureaucrats, politicians and other VVIPs, struggled to be a part of the celebrations and got turned away by the security guards, because the stadium was packed far beyond its capacity. As news of the chaos and agitation spread, Chief Minister Narendra Modi
Narendra Modi
Narendra Damodardas Modi is the current Chief Minister of the Indian state of Gujarat.He was born in a middle class family in Vadnagar; and is a member of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh since childhood, as also an active politician since early in life. He holds a masters degree in political...
apologized and promised that the same programme would be repeated on Sunday for the benefit of those left out. The second day of the celebration also witnessed the same interest in terms of attendance.