Introduction:

Popular as one of the premier cricket grounds in India, the stadium is generally known as the 'Motera Stadium' to avoid confusion with another stadium of the same name in the Navrangpura area. It is owned by the Gujarat Cricket Association and comes under the aegis of the West Zone.

Venue History:

Before this stadium came into existence, international matches were played at the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation's stadium, bearing the same name. However, in 1982, the Gujrat government donated a 50-acre land on the banks of the Sabarmati river and the Motera stadium was constructed in a span of only nine months. The first international match to be hosted here was a Test between India and West Indies on November 12, 1983.

Venue Description:

The Motera stadium has been witness to several important landmarks. It is also the adopted home of the Indian Premier League franchise Rajasthan Royals. The current stands are as follows - GMDC Upper and Lower stands, East Upper and Lower Pavilion, Adani Lower Pavilion, Adani Upper Pavilion, Club Pavilion, and West Pavilion. All stands, except the Club and West Pavilions, consistent two tiers. The Adani Pavilion consists of more than 20 air-conditioned corporate boxes as well as the player dressing rooms. The stadium has 21 entry gates. The ground was renovated in 2006, just before the Champions Trophy. After renovation, state-of-the-art floodlights were added to the stadium along with covered stands, three new pitches and a new outfield.

How does the pitch play?

The Motera offers a slow wicket. Initially, it was a bowler-friendly track but over the course of time, the pitch lost its spice as it started to slow down. Very few Test games have reached a conclusion over here.

Trivia:

Sunil Gavaskar became the first-ever cricketer to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket on this ground - a feat he achieved against Pakistan in 1986-87.

Kapil Dev claimed his 432nd Test wicket on this ground to become the highest wicket-taker in the world, breaking Sir Richard Hadlee's record in 1993.

by Sonali Dhulap