by When we talk about cricket in India, we often picture massive stadiums filled with thousands of cheering fans. But India’s cricket story isn’t just about these giant venues.
The smallest stadiums in India have their own special charm and importance in the country’s rich cricket tradition.
These compact grounds offer fans a more intimate experience where they can feel closer to the action on the field.
You can almost hear the players’ calls and feel the excitement in a more personal way. Many of these smaller stadiums have also hosted memorable matches where cricket history was made.
From historical venues in busy cities to newer grounds with stunning mountain views, these smallest stadiums in India bring international cricket to different parts of the country.
They help spread cricket fever to every corner of India and provide important venues for developing local talent.
Smallest Stadium in India
In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey to discover the top 10 smallest cricket stadiums across India.
We’ll explore what makes each one special, from their unique locations to the unforgettable matches they’ve hosted.
Whether you’re a cricket fan planning to visit these grounds or just curious about different sporting venues, you’ll find plenty to enjoy in our tour of India’s coziest cricket grounds.
List of 10 Smallest Cricket Stadiums in India
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick overview of India’s 10 smallest cricket stadiums, organized by their ground length:
| Stadium Name | City | Ground Length | Seating Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nehru Stadium | Kochi | 140 meters | 40,000 |
| Green Park Stadium | Kanpur | 150 meters | 18,000 |
| Lalbhai Contractor Stadium | Surat | 150 meters | 7,000 |
| Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium | Visakhapatnam | 155 meters | 27,500 |
| Moti Bagh Stadium | Vadodara | 160 meters | 18,000 |
| Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium | Dehradun | 160 meters | 25,000 |
| Barsapara Cricket Stadium | Guwahati | 160 meters | 40,000 |
| Holkar Cricket Stadium | Indore | 165 meters | 26,000 |
| Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium | Dharamshala | 175 meters | 23,000 |
| Brabourne Stadium | Mumbai | 180 meters | 20,000 |
Now, let’s explore what makes each of these venues special despite their smaller size.
Top 10 Smallest Cricket Stadiums in India in 2025
Nehru Stadium, Kochi
City: Kochi, Kerala
Ground Length: 140 meters
Seating Capacity: 40,000
Nehru Stadium holds the distinction of having the shortest ground length of any cricket stadium in India at just 140 meters. What makes this venue unique is that it’s primarily a football stadium that also hosts cricket matches.
Key Features:
- Multi-sport venue that hosts both cricket and football
- Coastal location means humid conditions that can affect play
- Large capacity despite its small ground size
Fun Fact: The stadium undergoes interesting transformations between cricket and football seasons, with grounds staff working hard to adapt the playing surface for each sport.
Green Park Stadium, Kanpur
City: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Ground Length: 150 meters
Seating Capacity: 18,000
Green Park is one of India’s most historic cricket venues despite its small 150-meter ground length. This stadium has witnessed some of Indian cricket’s most significant moments.
Key Features:
- Established in 1945, making it one of India’s older cricket grounds
- First Test victory – India achieved its first Test win against Australia here in 1959
- Distinctive clock tower that has become a Kanpur landmark
Fun Fact: Despite its name, the stadium isn’t named after its greenery but after Madam Green, a British woman who once owned the land.
Lalbhai Contractor Stadium, Surat
City: Surat, Gujarat
Ground Length: 150 meters
Seating Capacity: 7,000
With just 7,000 seats, Lalbhai Contractor Stadium has the smallest seating capacity among major cricket stadiums in India, creating an intimate atmosphere for spectators.
Key Features:
- Named after Nari Contractor, a former Indian cricket captain from Surat
- Cozy viewing experience with fans close to the action
- Important venue for developing cricket talent in Gujarat
Fun Fact: Despite its small size, the stadium underwent a significant renovation in 2010 that greatly improved facilities while maintaining its intimate character.
Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
City: Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh
Ground Length: 155 meters
Seating Capacity: 27,500
This stadium, commonly called ACA-VDCA Stadium, has earned a reputation as a batsman-friendly venue despite its compact 155-meter ground size.
Key Features:
- Coastal setting near the Bay of Bengal provides pleasant breezes
- Modern facilities with excellent amenities for players and fans
- Hosted historic matches including India’s first Day-Night Test
Fun Fact: The pitch here is known for producing high-scoring matches, making it a favorite among batsmen but often challenging for bowlers.
Moti Bagh Stadium, Vadodara
City: Vadodara, Gujarat
Ground Length: 160 meters
Seating Capacity: 18,000
Moti Bagh Stadium represents a beautiful blend of cricket and royalty, being part of the grounds of the former royal palace of Vadodara.
Key Features:
- Royal connection – located on the grounds of Laxmi Vilas Palace
- Historic venue dating back to the 1930s
- Produced many international cricketers from the Baroda region
Fun Fact: The stadium witnessed cricket history when Sachin Tendulkar scored his first double century in ODI cricket against South Africa here in 2010.
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun
City: Dehradun, Uttarakhand
Ground Length: 160 meters
Seating Capacity: 25,000
This stadium is one of the newest additions to India’s international cricket venues, bringing high-level cricket to the beautiful state of Uttarakhand.
Key Features:
- Spectacular mountain views of the nearby Himalayan foothills
- Afghanistan connection – served as the home ground for the Afghanistan cricket team for a period
- Growing importance in promoting cricket in northern India
Fun Fact: The stadium helped put Dehradun on the international cricket map when it hosted its first T20I in 2018.
Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati
City: Guwahati, Assam
Ground Length: 160 meters
Seating Capacity: 40,000
Barsapara is the newest venue on our list and represents cricket’s growing popularity in Northeast India. Despite its compact ground, it can host large crowds.
Key Features:
- State-of-the-art facilities built to international standards
- Northeast India’s cricket hub – first international-standard stadium in the region
- Excellent drainage system to handle Guwahati’s high rainfall
Fun Fact: The stadium hosted its first international match in 2017, marking a milestone for cricket in Northeast India.
Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
City: Indore, Madhya Pradesh
Ground Length: 165 meters
Seating Capacity: 26,000
The Holkar Cricket Stadium has earned a reputation as one of the most batting-friendly pitches in India, often producing high-scoring thrillers.
Key Features:
- Named after the Holkar dynasty that once ruled the Indore region
- Built in 2003 with modern amenities despite its smaller size
- Fan-friendly design ensuring good views from all seats
Fun Fact: The stadium witnessed the highest team total in Ranji Trophy history when Mumbai scored 725/9 against Madhya Pradesh.
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamshala
City: Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh
Ground Length: 175 meters
Seating Capacity: 23,000
The HPCA Stadium is widely regarded as the most scenic cricket ground in India, possibly the world, offering stunning views of the Himalayan mountains.
Key Features:
- Breathtaking backdrop of the snow-capped Dhauladhar range
- High altitude location at 1,457 meters above sea level
- Unique playing conditions due to the mountain climate
Fun Fact: The stadium has become a tourist attraction in its own right, with many visitors coming just to see the ground even when no matches are being played.
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai
City: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Ground Length: 180 meters
Seating Capacity: 20,000
Brabourne Stadium holds a special place in Indian cricket history as one of the oldest cricket grounds in the country, dating back to 1937.
Key Features:
- Historic significance as Mumbai’s first proper cricket stadium
- Home to the Cricket Club of India, one of the oldest cricket clubs in the country
- Beautiful colonial architecture with an old-world charm
Fun Fact: The stadium has an interesting rule – any batsman who hits a six into the members’ area of the Cricket Club of India pavilion must personally apologize to the members!
Why These Small Stadiums Matter?
These compact venues play several important roles in Indian cricket:
- Developing local talent by providing quality facilities across different regions
- Bringing international cricket to more parts of India
- Creating unique challenges for players with different playing conditions
- Offering intimate experiences for fans to connect more closely with the game
- Preserving cricket history through venues with significant historical importance
Many cricket experts believe that playing at these smaller grounds helps players develop specific skills. Batsmen learn to be more selective with their shots on smaller boundaries, while bowlers develop strategies to contain scoring in tighter spaces.
How Technology Has Transformed Small Stadiums?
Modern technology has revolutionized even the smallest cricket venues:
- World-class broadcast facilities with multiple camera angles
- Advanced floodlighting systems allowing day-night matches
- Digital scoreboards providing detailed statistics and replays
- Improved pitch preparation techniques, maintaining international standards
- Better spectator amenities enhancing the fan experience
These technological improvements mean that even the smallest stadiums can now host international matches with the same quality as larger venues.
FAQs About the Smallest Cricket Stadiums in India
- Which is the smallest cricket stadium in India by ground size?
Nehru Stadium in Kochi has the smallest ground length at just 140 meters.
- Which Indian stadium has the smallest seating capacity?
Lalbhai Contractor Stadium in Surat accommodates only 7,000 spectators.
- Which small stadium is considered the most beautiful?
The HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala is widely regarded as the most picturesque due to its Himalayan backdrop.
- Do smaller stadiums host international matches?
Yes, most of these smaller venues have hosted international matches, including Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
- Are matches at smaller stadiums broadcast internationally?
Yes, all international matches and IPL games at these venues are broadcast with the same quality as those at larger stadiums.
- Are new small stadiums being built in India?
Yes, India continues to develop new cricket stadiums of various sizes across the country to meet growing demand.
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Conclusion:
India’s smaller cricket stadiums might not always get the same attention as giants like Eden Gardens or Narendra Modi Stadium, but they remain vital parts of the country’s cricket landscape.
From historic venues like Brabourne Stadium that have witnessed the evolution of Indian cricket to newer grounds like Barsapara Stadium that are taking the sport to new regions, these compact venues each tell a unique story.
What makes these smaller grounds special is their character and charm. They provide more intimate settings where fans can feel closer to the action.
Many have also produced memorable cricket moments that live on in the sport’s rich history.
These stadiums serve as important development hubs, nurturing local talent and providing platforms for domestic cricket to flourish.
Without these smaller venues, many regions would miss out on experiencing high-level cricket firsthand.
From the royal connections of Moti Bagh Stadium to the breathtaking mountain views at Dharamshala, each venue brings something unique to India’s cricket story.
They remind us that cricket in India isn’t just about massive crowds and commercial spectacles – it’s also about tradition, regional pride, and the pure joy of the game.
As Indian cricket continues to evolve and grow, these smaller stadiums will remain vital pieces of the country’s sporting infrastructure.
They prove that when it comes to creating cricket magic, size isn’t everything – it’s the memories made, the talent developed, and the passion shared that truly matter.
The next time you hear about a match being played at one of these cozier grounds, remember – some of cricket’s biggest moments happen in its smallest venues.
