IN A MAJOR PUSH towards building one of the largest cricket venues in the world, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Ajinkya Naik has met senior Maharashtra government officials to accelerate plans for a proposed 1 lakh-capacity cricket stadium in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
The development marks a significant step forward in what is being positioned as a landmark infrastructure project for Indian cricket and Maharashtra’s sporting ecosystem. Naik recently held discussions with officials from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) as well as other state authorities to secure land and fast-track approvals for the project. The MCA has been actively pursuing land acquisition in the Navi Mumbai region, which is emerging as the preferred site for the mega stadium.
According to officials, the meetings were aimed at finalising a suitable land parcel, accelerating administrative clearances, and moving the project from proposal stage to execution. The proposed venue is envisioned as a state-of-the-art, world-class cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 100,000 spectators, placing it among the largest in the world.
The project has strong backing from the Maharashtra government, with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis previously expressing support for building a stadium of this scale. The initiative aligns with a broader vision to strengthen Maharashtra’s position as a global sports hub, create infrastructure capable of hosting major international events, and boost sports tourism and economic activity in the region.
Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium, while historic, has a capacity of just over 33,000, limiting its ability to meet growing demand. The MCA believes a larger venue will help Mumbai reclaim its position as a premier host for marquee matches and global tournaments. The proposal is not new but has gained momentum over the past year. The idea was first strongly backed by the state leadership in 2025 and MCA has since been working on land identification and feasibility. The project is also linked to MCA’s centenary milestone in 2030, with hopes of completion around that timeline
If completed, the stadium would rival venues like the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, currently the world’s largest cricket stadium with a capacity exceeding 100,000. This would place Mumbai among a select group of cities globally capable of hosting mega-scale sporting spectacles.
