Sardar Patel Stadium renamed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Sardar Patel Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad also known as the Motera Stadium has been renamed to Narendra Modi Stadium. Lauded for being the world's biggest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 1,10,000, it will be a host to pink-ball Test between India and England which is scheduled to begin on Wednesday. 

The newly revamp stadium was inaugurated on Wednesday with President Ram Nath Kovind's 'Bhumi Pujan' and Home Minister Amit Shah's address ahead of the start of the Day-Night Test between India and England.

"Coupled with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Sports Enclave & Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, a sports complex will also be built in Naranpura. These three will be equipped to host any international sports event. Ahmedabad to be known as the 'sports city' of India," said Shah at the inauguration ceremony.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju were also in attendance at the inauguration ceremony of the world’s largest cricket stadium. 

BCCI President Sourav Ganguly, who is currently on a recovery journey after undergoing two sets of angioplasty last month, was not able to attend the event in person but did send his best wishes via Twitter. 

“Will miss being at the stadium today ..what an effort it must have been to create this ..pink test was our dream and it's going be the 2nd one in India”: Sourav Ganguly wrote on Twitter.

Meanwhile, India Cricket Team Captain Virat Kohli had earlier expressed delight over stadium's new infrastructure, adding that he's proud that India now has the biggest cricket stadium in the world. 

"We're proud to have the biggest cricket stadium in the world. The infrastructure is very good and we're all really excited to play here,” Virat Kohli had said in his press conference on Tuesday.

Crowd presence does make a big difference. We feel the pressure too when we play abroad. Hoping for good support in the coming Tests,” Kohli had added.

Interestingly, this is only the second Pink ball Test being played in India. The first such Test match was played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata against Bangladesh.