Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, renowned for its vast capacity and state-of-the-art facilities, finds itself in the spotlight—but this time, not for the excitement of play, but the eeriness of empty stands. As the first Test between India and West Indies commenced on Thursday, fans and experts alike were startled by the vacant seats. Coming off the back of the Asia Cup and coinciding with Dussehra, is this cricket overkill?
It's a valid query—was this enormous stadium the right choice for a match against a team experiencing a dip in form... or should India reassess its Test cricket strategy?
West Indies got off to a shaky start, collapsing for just 162 runs after choosing to bat first. India’s bowlers were in fine form, with Mohammed Siraj capturing 4 wickets, Jasprit Bumrah taking 3, Kuldeep Yadav 2, and Washington Sundar claiming one. Despite the stellar performance from Indian bowlers, the empty stands robbed the Test of its luster.
Cricket fans expressed their frustration and disappointment on social media. Many argued that a venue with such capacity was unsuitable for a match against a lower-ranked team. A fan tweeted on X (formerly Twitter), 'For a match against a lower-tier team, we should pick venues that naturally attract spectators. While Ahmedabad boasts a large capacity, it should be reserved for T20s or major league clashes, not Test matches.'
Source: aajtak
Former captain Virat Kohli had previously weighed in on this debate, suggesting back in 2019 that India should streamline to just 5 fixed Test centers to ensure traveling teams know what to expect, in terms of pitches and crowds. According to him, while rotating venues for state associations is understandable, steady locations can have a bigger impact.
The BCCI has hosted Test matches at 18 different stadiums in the 21st century. In contrast, countries like England and Australia have limited their Test venue count to 9 and 10, respectively. Experts argue that, to preserve the prestige of Test cricket and maintain spectator interest, India should consider adopting a similar approach.
