Aakash Chopra: The first Test between India and the West Indies witnessed surprisingly low attendance at the world’s largest cricket stadium.
Former India opener Aakash Chopra commented on the nearly empty stands during the match, which took place at the Narendra Modi International Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad, starting October 2. Despite having a capacity of over 100,000 spectators and regularly hosting packed T20Is and IPL games, the stadium saw very few fans over the three days of play.
The West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first. Their innings offered little resistance, with only a 48-run fourth-wicket partnership between captain Roston Chase (24 off 43 balls, four boundaries) and Shai Hope (26 off 36 balls, three fours), along with a resilient 32 from Justin Greaves (73 balls, four boundaries). The visitors were eventually bowled out for 162 in 44.1 overs. Mohammed Siraj (4/40) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/42) exploited the lively pitch, while spinners Kuldeep Yadav (2/25) and Washington Sundar (1/9) contributed crucial breakthroughs.
India responded with a commanding batting display. KL Rahul scored a steady 100 off 197 balls (12 fours), Dhruv Jurel smashed 125 off 210 balls (15 fours, 3 sixes), and Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 104 off 176 balls (6 fours, 5 sixes), helping India declare at 448/5.
In the West Indies’ second innings, the struggles continued as they were dismissed for just 146. Alick Athanaze (38 off 74 balls, three fours) and Justin Greaves (25 off 52 balls, four boundaries) were the only notable contributions. Jadeja (4/54), Siraj (3/31), and Kuldeep Yadav (2/23) shared the wickets, securing a comprehensive victory for India.
“Play in Guwahati, Ranchi, or Indore, and the stadium will be full,” said former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra.
While fans may still follow Test matches through TV or other channels, the visual appeal of a packed stadium is unmatched. Aakash Chopra suggested that Test cricket should be taken to smaller venues to revive that excitement.
“Take Test matches to smaller centers. If you don’t want a tier system, that’s fine, but if it matters, go to these smaller cities. Play in Guwahati, Ranchi, or Indore, and the stadium will be full. You could also consider a pink-ball Test—it adds excitement, because right now, it’s less about the love for the game,” Aakash Chopra explained in his YouTube video.
He pointed out that fans do show up for matches elsewhere. “People came to Kanpur for India A’s game, and they came to Delhi for a Ranji Trophy match, so they’ll come here too. But in Ahmedabad? Not really,” he added.
Aakash Chopra also highlighted the challenge posed by the large gap between India and the West Indies in Test cricket, noting that low-profile contests struggle to attract spectators.
“There are several reasons. The gap between India and the West Indies is huge, so watching the West Indies play feels like a laborious task. Then there’s the stadium size—132,000 seats. Even if 10–15 thousand fans show up, it still feels empty. Ahmedabad hosts many big-ticket events like IPL finals and World Cup matches, so there isn’t much appetite for a low-key Test,” he said.
