How well do you know Wankhede Stadium?

IPL is all set to start on March 26th with a clash between Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Both the teams will look to have a perfect start to their IPL campaign by winning their first game in Mumbai. As per new guidelines, all the 70-games will be played across four venues in Maharashtra, providing unquestionable help to Mumbai Indians who will enjoy playing at home.  

Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai is regarded as the most iconic cricket ground  of India and has given some pleasant memories to all the cricket fans in the country. The 2011 World Cup final where India lifted the title after a long drought took place at the Wankhede Stadium only. While the stadium is all set to host 20 games of the Indian Premier League, Crictracker looks back at some interesting stats related to the stadium, which will help us understand the venue more.

Here is everything you must know about Wankhede Stadium

 Origin of Wankhede Stadium:   

India’s most iconic stadium was born out of a tussle between the Cricket Club of India, which owns Brabourne Stadium, and the Bombay Cricket Association (now MCA) over the allocation of tickets for cricket matches. At the initiative of S.K. Wankhede, then secretary of the Mumbai Cricket Association, BCA built the new stadium in South Bombay near the Churchgate station. It was built in approx 13-months and opened in time for the final Test between India and the West Indies in 1975. The architect of the stadium was Shashi Prabhu.  

Since then, Wankhede Stadium has taken over the stature of the main cricketing venue in the city. Wankhede Stadium was named after the Association’s President Barrister Sheshrao Wankhede in 1974.  

 Address of the Stadium:   

 Vinoo Mankad Rd, Churchgate, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400020  

  The capacity of the Stadium:   

  33,108  

  Stands at Wankhede Stadium:   

  Sunil Gavaskar Stand  

  North Stand  

  Vijay Merchant Stand  

  Sachin Tendulkar Stand  

  MCA Stand  

  Vitthal Divecha Stand  

  Garware Stand  

  Grand Stand  

 First Test match at Wankhede Stadium:  

India vs West Indies in 1974/75:

Clive Lloyd scored an unbeaten 242, and in Pataudi’s last hurrah, India lost by 201 runs. The game also witnessed crowd disturbance after a fan who rushed onto the ground to greet Lloyd was mistreated by the police.  

Some interesting archives:  

Ravi Shastri’s six sixes in an over off Baroda’s Tilak Raj in Ranji Trophy, en route to the fastest double-hundred in first-class cricket, were recorded on this ground in 1984–85. His unbeaten 200 in 113 minutes off 123 balls with 13 fours and 13 sixes at this ground is the fastest double century in first-class cricket.  

  * Stadium also hosted master blaster Sachin Tendulkar’s last international match in 2013.  

  * The highest score by an Indian at the Wankhede Stadium is Virat Kohli’s 235 against England in 2016–17.  

 The most celebrated game at Wankhede Stadium:   

2011 Cricket World Cup

  India vs Sri Lanka: India won the match by 6-wickets  

 Wankhede Stadium and IPL:   

Although Wankhede Stadium has been the host of IPL’s most successful franchise, the venue has got to host only one IPL final. The event happened in 2018, and the clash for ultimate glory was between Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The match brought the best out of Shane Watson, who scored unbeaten 117 in just 57 balls to ensure victory for the Chennai franchise. Earlier, SRH posted 178/6 in 20-overs on the back of Kane Williamson’s 47 off 36.  

IPL’s record at Wankhede Stadium:   

Highest total:

 235/1 by RCB vs Mumbai Indians  

Lowest Total:

  67 all out by KKR vs MI  

Most IPL runs:

  Rohit Sharma (1733)  

Most IPL wickets:

  Lasith Malinga (68)  

Highest Individual Score:   

  A.B. de Villiers (133)  

Best bowling:

  Harbhajan Singh (5/18)