Comparing India’s Top 5 Biggest Stadiums Gaurav Kashyap, July 3, 2025July 3, 2025 India loves sports, especially cricket and football, and it has some of the biggest stadiums in the world where fans cheer for their favorite teams! These giant playgrounds host exciting matches, from the Indian Premier League (IPL) to international games like the T20 World Cup. If you’re a kid who loves sports, this guide will compare India’s top five biggest stadiums in a way that’s super easy for a 10-year-old to understand. We’ll look at their size, what makes them special, and how they’re different. Plus, it’s written to be SEO-friendly so you can find it when searching for “India’s biggest stadiums.” Let’s explore these awesome places! What Are India’s Top 5 Biggest Stadiums? India’s biggest stadiums are known for their huge crowds, cool features, and amazing moments in cricket and football. The top five, based on how many people they can hold, are: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata Eden Gardens, Kolkata Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi Let’s compare them by size, sports, history, and fun facts to see what makes each one unique! 1. Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Capacity: 132,000 seats Sports: Cricket Why It’s Cool: This is the world’s largest cricket stadium! Opened in 2020, it’s named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and replaced the older Sardar Patel Stadium. It’s home to the Gujarat Titans in the IPL and hosted the 2023 Cricket World Cup final. With LED floodlights, big screens, and 11 pitches, it’s super modern. Fun Fact: It can fit more people than a small city, and it hosted over 100,000 fans for the India vs. Pakistan match in 2023! What to Know: The pitch loves batters, so players like Shubman Gill hit big sixes. It’s likely to host the 2026 T20 World Cup final. For Kids: Imagine a stadium so big it’s like a giant party with everyone cheering for cricket! 2. Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan), Kolkata, West Bengal Capacity: 85,000 seats Sports: Football (mainly), some cricket Why It’s Cool: This is India’s biggest football stadium and one of the largest in the world. Built in 1984, it’s home to ISL teams like ATK Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. It hosted the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup final and is called the “Mecca of Indian Football” because Kolkata loves football. Fun Fact: During a Kolkata Derby (Mohun Bagan vs. East Bengal), the crowd is so loud it feels like an earthquake! What to Know: The pitch is great for fast football, perfect for goal-scorers like Sunil Chhetri. The stadium’s huge stands make every match exciting. For Kids: Picture a stadium where fans wave giant flags and cheer like it’s a superhero movie! 3. Eden Gardens, Kolkata, West Bengal Capacity: 66,000 seats Sports: Cricket Why It’s Cool: Eden Gardens, built in 1864, is one of the oldest and most famous cricket stadiums, called the “Mecca of Indian Cricket.” It’s home to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL and hosted the 2016 T20 World Cup final, where Carlos Brathwaite hit four sixes to win! Fun Fact: Fans chant “KKR, KKR!” so loud that players feel the energy on the field. What to Know: The pitch helps both batters and spinners, so stars like Andre Russell and Ravichandran Ashwin shine here. It’s a top pick for 2026 T20 World Cup matches. For Kids: Think of a stadium where cricket feels like a big festival, with fans dancing and cheering! 4. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi Capacity: 60,000 seats Sports: Football, athletics, some cricket Why It’s Cool: Built in 1982 for the Asian Games, this Delhi stadium is a big hub for football and athletics. It’s home to ISL team Punjab FC and hosted the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. It’s named after India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Fun Fact: The stadium hosts concerts, too, so you might see a football match and a music show in the same place! What to Know: The pitch is great for fast-paced football, and the metro makes it easy to visit. It’s perfect for exciting ISL matches. For Kids: Imagine a stadium where you can watch football and maybe see your favorite singer perform! 5. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi, Kerala Capacity: 60,000 seats Sports: Football, some cricket Why It’s Cool: Known as “Kaloor,” this stadium is home to Kerala Blasters, one of the most popular ISL teams. Built in 1996, it’s famous for its loud fans who wear yellow and chant for players like Sahal Abdul Samad. It hosted the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Fun Fact: The crowd’s cheers are so loud that players call it the “12th man” because it feels like an extra teammate! What to Know: The pitch supports attacking football, so expect lots of goals. The floodlights make night games super cool. For Kids: Picture a stadium full of yellow jerseys whistling and cheering like it’s a big party! Comparing the Stadiums Let’s see how these five stadiums are different and similar by looking at key features: Size Narendra Modi Stadium: 132,000 seats, the biggest by far, almost double Eden Gardens! Salt Lake Stadium: 85,000 seats, huge for football but smaller than Narendra Modi. Eden Gardens: 66,000 seats, big for cricket but not as massive as Narendra Modi. Jawaharlal Nehru (Delhi and Kochi): Both have 60,000 seats, tied for smallest but still huge! Winner: Narendra Modi Stadium, because it fits the most fans. Sports Narendra Modi and Eden Gardens: Mainly cricket, perfect for IPL and T20 World Cup matches. Salt Lake and Jawaharlal Nehru (Delhi and Kochi): Mostly football, with Salt Lake and Kochi being ISL hubs. Delhi also hosts athletics, and Salt Lake has some cricket. Winner: Tie—cricket fans love Narendra Modi and Eden Gardens, while football fans pick Salt Lake, Delhi, and Kochi. History Eden Gardens: Oldest, built in 1864, with over 150 years of cricket stories like VVS Laxman’s 281 in 2001. Salt Lake Stadium: Built in 1984, younger but historic for football with the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. Jawaharlal Nehru (Delhi): Built in 1982, with a rich history in football and athletics. Jawaharlal Nehru (Kochi): Built in 1996, newer but famous for Kerala Blasters’ fanbase. Narendra Modi Stadium: Newest, opened in 2020, but built on the site of the 1982 Sardar Patel Stadium. Winner: Eden Gardens, for its super long history of cricket magic. Fan Atmosphere Narendra Modi: Huge crowds make it loud, with Gujarat fans cheering for Titans. Salt Lake: Kolkata’s football fans are crazy loud, especially for derbies. Eden Gardens: Kolkata cricket fans chant “KKR, KKR!” and shake the stands. Jawaharlal Nehru (Delhi): Delhi fans are energetic, especially for ISL and international games. Jawaharlal Nehru (Kochi): Kerala Blasters’ “Yellow Army” is one of the loudest fanbases in India. Winner: Tie—Salt Lake and Kochi for football, Eden Gardens and Narendra Modi for cricket, all have super passionate fans! Cool Features Narendra Modi: LED floodlights, 11 pitches, big screens, and a cricket academy. Salt Lake: Giant stands, great for football, and a history of big crowds. Eden Gardens: Floodlights, big screens, and a river nearby for a cool vibe. Jawaharlal Nehru (Delhi): Metro access, modern facilities, and multi-sport use. Jawaharlal Nehru (Kochi): Bright floodlights and a sea breeze from nearby Kochi waters. Winner: Narendra Modi, for its futuristic design and tons of cool features. How These Stadiums Help Fantasy Games If you play fantasy cricket or football on apps like Dream11: Narendra Modi and Eden Gardens: Pick batters like Rohit Sharma for Narendra Modi’s batter-friendly pitch or spinners like Sunil Narine for Eden Gardens’ later overs. Salt Lake and Kochi: Choose goal-scorers like Roy Krishna for their fast football pitches. Delhi: Pick versatile players for football or athletics events. For Kids: Fantasy games are like building a superhero team, and these stadiums are where your heroes shine! How Kids Can Enjoy These Stadiums Watch Matches: Catch cricket on Star Sports or football on JioCinema to see these stadiums. Visit with Family: Ask a parent to take you to an IPL match at Narendra Modi or Eden Gardens, or an ISL game at Salt Lake or Kochi. Play Fantasy Games: Join free fantasy leagues on Dream11 and pick stars like Hardik Pandya or Sunil Chhetri based on the stadium. Learn Chants: Practice “Whistle Podu” for Kochi, “KKR, KKR!” for Eden Gardens, or “Go Titans!” for Narendra Modi. Explore History: Check ESPN Cricinfo or Goal.com for cool stories about these stadiums. Why These Stadiums Are Awesome Each stadium is special: Narendra Modi: Biggest in the world, perfect for cricket fans. Salt Lake: Football’s heart in Kolkata, with epic derbies. Eden Gardens: Cricket’s historic home, full of legendary moments. Jawaharlal Nehru (Delhi): A multi-sport hub with a cool vibe. Jawaharlal Nehru (Kochi): Kerala’s loud football fortress. They’re all likely to shine in 2026, with Narendra Modi and Eden Gardens hosting T20 World Cup matches and Salt Lake and Kochi hosting ISL games. Conclusion India’s top five biggest stadiums—Narendra Modi (132,000 seats), Salt Lake (85,000), Eden Gardens (66,000), and Jawaharlal Nehru in Delhi and Kochi (60,000 each)—are amazing places where sports dreams come true. Narendra Modi is the biggest and most modern, Salt Lake and Kochi are football giants, Eden Gardens is cricket’s historic heart, and Delhi is a multi-sport star. Each has unique features, from loud fans to cool pitches, making them perfect for cricket and football. Whether you’re watching on TV, playing fantasy games, or visiting with family, these stadiums make sports super fun. So, cheer loud, pick your favorite players, and enjoy India’s biggest stadiums! Largest Stadiums in India