In 2004, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, also known as the Visaka International Cricket Stadium Ground, made a grand debut as the esteemed home ground for the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad. Nestled in the suburban enclave of Uppal, it affectionately earned the endearing title ‘Uppal Stadium’.
Before this, the Hyderabad Cricket Association had relied on the limited Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium. Recognizing the urgent need for a world-class venue, the HCA proposed its construction, receiving swift approval from then-Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
As a fitting tribute to the former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, the stadium stands tall as a lasting testament to his enduring legacy. Lets know more about this:
Facts About Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
Here is the complete overview of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Location | Hyderabad, Telangana, India |
| Year Opened | 2004 |
| Owner | Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) |
| Capacity | 39,200 (seating), 55,000 (total) |
| Teams | Home ground for Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL) and Hyderabad cricket team |
| Matches Hosted | 6 Tests, 10 ODIs, 3 T20Is (as of September 2023) |
Land Area
The Stadium is built over 16 acres of land. The stadium is known for its state-of-the-art facility and hosting international and IPL matches.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Capacity:
It is an international standard stadium. Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium can officially manage 55000 spectators in a match.
Pitch Report:
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, known as Visaka, features a dynamic pitch that evolves during matches. Composed of red Deccan Plateau soil, it provides medium bounce and seam movement initially, gradually becoming more favorable for batsmen. Spinners gain traction later, while its spacious boundaries present challenges.
Across formats, it witnesses high scores in Tests and ODIs, with spinners impacting later play. T20Is and IPL offer a balanced contest, favoring adaptability. Recent trends show varying match outcomes, influenced by dew in limited-overs games. Renovations in 2019 improved drainage and outfield quality, enhancing the overall cricket experience.
Records and Stats at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
Facts about Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
| Fact | Description |
|---|---|
| Originally named | Visaka Industries Stadium after its contractors, later renamed in honor of former PM Rajiv Gandhi. |
| Pitch Characteristics | Visaka Industries Stadium after its contractors, was later renamed in honor of former PM Rajiv Gandhi. |
| IPL Finals Hosted | Hosted two IPL finals: 2017 (Mumbai Indians) & 2019 (Chennai Super Kings). |
| ICC Cricket World Cup Participation | Generally batsman-friendly pitches with high scores common. |
Records
| Record | Holder / Match |
|---|---|
| Highest Team Score (ODI) | 416/8 by Australia (vs India, 2009) |
| Lowest Team Score (ODI) | 130 by Zimbabwe (vs West Indies, 2013) |
| Most Sixes in a T20I | 27 (India vs New Zealand, 2016) |
| Highest Individual Score (Test) | 211 by Michael Clarke (Australia, 2010) |
| Most Wickets (T20I) | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India) – 13 wickets |
IPL Stats
The stats of the last five IPL matches at this venue are listed below.
- 1st Inning average score in IPL matches is 158.8 runs.
- The 2nd Innings’ average score in IPL matches is 135.4 runs.
IPL Records at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
| Record | Description |
|---|---|
| Highest Score | 231/2 (Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, 31 March 2019) |
| Lowest Score | 115/9 (Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, 3 April 2014) |
| Most Runs | David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 1768 runs |
| Most Wickets | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Sunrisers Hyderabad) – 69 wickets |
| Most Sixes in a Match | 22 (Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Mumbai Indians, 13 May 2017) |
Stats in Test Cricket:
The stats of the last five test matches at this venue are listed below.
- 1st Inning average score is 404.6 runs.
- 2nd Innings’ average score is 377.8 runs.
- 3rd Innings’ average score is 205.8 runs.
- The 4th Innings average score is 78.6 runs.
Test Cricket Records at the Stadium:
| Record | Description |
|---|---|
| Highest Score | 687/6d (India vs Bangladesh, 2017) |
| Lowest Score | 159 (South Africa vs India, 2013) |
| Most Runs | Cheteshwar Pujara (India) – 510 runs |
| Most Wickets | Ravindra Jadeja (India) – 14 wickets |
| Highest Individual Score | 211 (Michael Clarke, Australia vs India, 2010) |
ODI Stats:
The stats of this venue’s last five ODI matches are listed below.
- 1st Innings average score in ODI matches is 283.6 runs.
- The 2nd Innings’ average score in ODI matches is 249.8 runs.
One-Day Internationals (ODIs) Records
| Record | Description |
|---|---|
| Highest Score | 416/8 (Australia vs India, 2 March 2009) |
| Lowest Score | 130 (Zimbabwe vs West Indies, 9 November 2013) |
| Most Runs | Shikhar Dhawan (India) – 569 runs |
| Most Wickets | Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India) – 14 wickets |
| Highest Individual Score | 154* (Shikhar Dhawan, India vs Sri Lanka, 18 March 2019) |
T20 Stats:
The stats of the last five T20 matches at this venue are listed below.
- 1st Innings average score in T20 matches is 207 runs.
- The 2nd Innings’ average score in T20 matches is 209 runs.
Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) Records
| Record | Description |
|---|---|
| Highest Score | 206/6 (India vs New Zealand, 24 October 2016) |
| Lowest Score | 80/10 (Sri Lanka vs India, 12 December 2017) |
| Most Runs | KL Rahul (India) – 109* |
| Most Wickets | Rashid Khan (Afghanistan) – 4 wickets |
| Most Sixes in a Match | 27 (India vs New Zealand, 24 October 2016) |
IPL 2024 | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium upcoming matches
You will be able to see the IPL 2024 Upcoming matches at Arun Jaitley Stadium once BCCI confirms the schedule.
Is Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium a batting pitch?
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is a flat wicket. Spinners perform well here after the early overs. While the pacer feels trouble because the pitch is slow, they can perform better in the early overs.
What is the other name of Rajiv Gandhi Cricket Stadium ground?
Visaka Industries Ltd built Visaka International Cricket Stadium, which is named after the company. Later, former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy changed the name to the name of former Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi.
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