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Wankhede Stadium: India’s Best Stadium Was Built Due to Ego Clashes!
Wankhede Stadium was built after a power struggle with Brabourne Stadium and went on to become an iconic home of Indian cricket, especially after the 2011 World Cup victory.
We all know how much Indians love cricket, and Wankhede Stadium is one of the most iconic cricket grounds in the country. But did you know it was built because of a major fight over power, tickets and control?
After Independence, Mumbai’s biggest cricket matches were held at Brabourne Stadium, owned by the elite Cricket Club of India (CCI), while the Bombay Cricket Association (BCA) organised the matches. Between 1948 and 1972, Brabourne hosted 17 Test matches.
But as cricket became more popular, tensions grew. The BCA wanted more tickets for the public and greater control over matches, while the CCI controlled much of the ticket allocation and stadium access. The BCA increasingly felt that it was organising matches in a stadium where it had little authority.
By 1972, the dispute had reached a breaking point. S. K. Wankhede, then BCA secretary, decided that instead of continuing the fight, the association would build its own stadium.
Construction began in 1973 on land just about a kilometre from Brabourne Stadium. Remarkably, the new stadium was completed in roughly a year.
In January 1975, Wankhede Stadium hosted its first Test match between India and the West Indies. With a capacity of around 45,000 and complete control under the BCA, Wankhede quickly became Mumbai’s new cricketing centre. The BCCI gradually began assigning more major matches to Wankhede, while players and fans embraced the new ground.
But Wankhede’s biggest moment came on 2 April 2011, when India faced Sri Lanka in the World Cup final. With the entire country watching, MS Dhoni hit the winning six, and India lifted the World Cup after 28 years.
That night, Wankhede became more than a stadium. It became a symbol of Indian cricket, celebration and history. Today, playing at Wankhede is a dream for cricketers around the world.