Overall experience: 5/5
If you are in Mumbai and has the opportunity to watch a cricket match at Wankhede stadium, please do. It is sure to be an incredible memory!
Things to know about the Wankhede stadium:
Accessibility: 5/5
One of the most significant aspects of Wankhede stadium is its accessibility. You can reach the stadium via public transportation modes like local trains and cabs. Gate no.4, the entry for the Sachin Tendulkar Stand, is located just outside the Marine Lines local train station, making it the most convenient.
Stands: 5/5
Almost one-third of the seats are in the Sachin Tendulkar stand. This is one of the most exciting places to be if you want to experience the energy and enthusiasm of the cricket fans fully. As I have been here, I can vouch for the quality of the experience here.
Also, most parts of this stand has a roof on top. This makes the heat tolerable during the summers in Mumbai for daytime matches.
Avoid the Divecha stand and some front rows of the Vengsarkar stand if you are going for a daytime match as you would be in direct sunlight, and it can be an uncomfortable experience for you.
Seats: 3/5
The seats are just fine in comfort and are well-maintained and tidy.
The only con is that it might get uncomfortable for you and the people sitting next to you if you are a chubby person as the seats are close together.
The spacing between two rows is quite a lot, which means that even if a six-foot person in the next row stands up, your view will not be blocked.
Visibility: 5/5
No matter where you book your tickets, you can clearly see the players, the bat, and the ball.
This is worth mentioning because I thought the experience might not be great if you purchase a low-cost ticket and sit in L3 or at the end seats. The videos and photographs online do not do justice to the actual experience.
Pricing: 4/5
The ticket pricing varies based on the demand, placement of the seats, and other facilities.
It is up to you how much you want to spend. On weekdays, you will come across tickets starting at Rs.800 for IPL matches. Weekends will always be slightly more expensive than weekdays and would start around Rs.1200.
Food and drinks: 4/5
Any outside food and drinks are an absolute no-no at the stadium.
You get free water in the stadium in small paper cups. You can carry them onto the seating area. But the chances of you spilling that and making a mess are pretty high.
The food and drinks sold at the match area are reasonably priced. You get around 200ml cool drink for Rs.50, cold coffee for Rs.100, popcorn for Rs.100, etc. While they cannot be called "affordable", they are way cheaper than what you find in cinemas and other entertainment facilities in Mumbai. They are also decent quality.
Washroom Cleanliness: 2/5
The washrooms were neat and clean before the commencement of the match. But it gets dirty over a period as hundreds of people use it. There is no one to clean and it and can be a terrible situation for you if you are in the stadium for a long-form cricket match.