Bengaluru is set for a major sporting infrastructure upgrade with an ambitious new international cricket stadium constructed in Anekal on the city's outskirts. If the stadium has an 80,000 capacity then it will be India’s second largest cricket stadium after the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The project is being developed by the Karnataka Housing Board (KHB) at Indlawadi in Anekal taluk, Bengaluru Urban district. Based on the current estimates, the project will cost approximately ₹943 crore and the stadium will be part of a larger sports complex in a total area of 75 acres.
The scale of the project is remarkable compared to Bengaluru’s current M Chinnaswamy Stadium, which has a capacity of about 33,000 fans. A venue of that size would thus have more than twice as many fans, giving the city a much larger stage for big domestic and international cricket games.
From Chinnaswamy to a Mega Stadium
Chinnaswamy Stadium has been one of Bengaluru's most recognizable sporting landmarks for decades. But its relatively small capacity has become increasingly a problem when the city hosts high-demand cricket matches and major fan gatherings.
The proposal for a larger stadium came to the fore in the wake of a tragic crowd incident outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in June 2025 when Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title victory was celebrated. And it is a case that big crowds around a small stadium are difficult.
The new stadium is intended to provide much greater seating capacity while creating a modern sporting environment capable of handling large-scale events.
🚨 Bengaluru's new 80,000-capacity international cricket stadium to be built by J Kumar Infraprojects under a ₹990 crore deal.
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) August 8, 2026
Chinnaswamy Stadium capacity: ~ 33,000
New stadium capacity: ~ 80,000
Narendra Modi Stadium cost: ~ 700 crore
Bengaluru's new stadium cost: ~ 1000… pic.twitter.com/7FXvimTMoP
More than a Cricket Ground
The Anekal project is planned to be an integrated sports complex, not just a cricket stadium. Modern sporting facilities, training facilities and amenities will be put in place for a wide variety of sports activities as well as international events.
Its location in Anekal could also impact the development of the surrounding region. An important sports facility that draws thousands of people to large events would be in demand in this area and roads, public transport, hospitality and commercial institutions would be given more attention as well.
But connectivity remains an important consideration. The stadium is around 24 kilometres from Bengaluru’s city centre, so transport planning is key to the transport movement of large crowds on match days.
Bengaluru’s Sporting Ambition
When completed the 80,000-seat stadium would significantly enhance Bengaluru’s place on the Indian sporting map. It would have a larger capacity for international cricket, IPL games, domestic league affairs and even other big-ticket events like concerts, festivals, etc.
The project is also more representative of a general trend towards building modern, large-capacity sporting infrastructure outside city centres that are extremely congested.
For Bengaluru’s cricket fans, the prospect is very important: a new venue more than twice the size of Chinnaswamy would eventually provide space for some of the biggest cricket crowds in the country.
Anekal Stadium is one of Karnataka's most ambitious sporting infrastructure projects with an estimated investment of about ₹943 crore and an 80,000-seat capacity.
