View text source at Wikipedia

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium

For the similarly-named cricket stadium in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, see Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Dehradun.

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
Uppal Stadium
The Rajiv Gandhi International cricket Stadium in 2024
Ground information
LocationUppal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Coordinates17°24′23″N 78°33′01″E / 17.40639°N 78.55028°E / 17.40639; 78.55028
Establishment2003; 21 years ago (2003)
Capacity55,000[1]
OwnerHyderabad Cricket Association (HCA)
ArchitectShashi Prabhu[2]
OperatorHCA
TenantsIndia cricket team (2005–present)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013–present)
Deccan Chargers (2008-2012)
End names
North end[3]
Pavellion end[3]
International information
First Test12–16 November 2010:
 India v  New Zealand
Last Test25–28 January 2024:
 India v  England
First ODI16 November 2005:
 India v  South Africa
Last ODI10 October 2023:
 Pakistan v  Sri Lanka
First T20I6 December 2019:
 India v  West Indies
Last T20I12 October 2024:
 India v  Bangladesh
As of 12 October 2024
Source: ESPNcricinfo

The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, commonly known as Uppal Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. It is owned and operated by Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). It is the home ground of Hyderabad cricket team and Hyderabad women's cricket team.[4]

Located in the eastern suburb of Uppal, it has a seating capacity of 39,200 and extends across 15 acres of land.[5] It serves as the home ground the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad. As of 13 October 2024, it has hosted 6 Tests, 10 ODIs, and 3 T20Is. The stadium hosted the final of 2017 IPL and the final of the 2019 IPL. The stadium hosted its first ICC event in October 2023 during the 2023 Cricket World Cup.

It is renamed after the former prime minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.[6]

History

[edit]

Before the stadium was built, HCA hosted domestic and international matches at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in the Fateh Maidan sports complex at Basheerbagh in central Hyderabad. The ground's proprietor was the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh state (Now Sports Authority of Telangana State) due to which HCA had limited authority and control over the ground, due to which it decided to build their own stadium.[6] In 2003, the proposal for a new stadium was submitted by HCA to the government[7] of erstwhile Andhra Pradesh, then headed by N. Chandrababu Naidu. The proposal was quickly cleared and HCA was allocated a budget for the same. The government also identified a large piece of land suitable for the project at Uppal.[8]

Most of the funding for the project came after an open auction of the stadium's title was held. Visaka Industries Limited won the auction with a bid price of ₹65,00,00,000. A sum of ₹43,00,00,000 was paid in advance and the stadium was named "Visakha International Cricket Stadium" in 2004.[9]

By 2005 when most of the stadium was built, it was ready to host its first ODI Match between India and South Africa. However, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (before the separation of Telangana) decided to change the name of the stadium to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in memory of the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.[3]

Following this decision, HCA was required to pay Visakha Industries six times the contract price in accordance with the contract clauses governing any subsequent renaming of the stadium or the Visakha name not remaining attached to the stadium. HCA however, following some negotiations by Govt, got away with paying an amount of ₹43,00,00,000, i.e. the contract price only.[9][10]

The ends are named Pavilion End and North End. On the retirement of VVS Laxman, the HCA decided to honor the veteran by naming the North End after him.[11]

Domestic cricket

[edit]

Sunrisers Hyderabad, also known as SRH, is a cricket franchise based in Hyderabad city. The team is owned by Kalanithi Maran of the Sun TV Network. Pat Cummins is the captain of the team and Daniel Vettori is the head coach. The team won the 2016 IPL. So far this stadium has served as the home ground of the Sunrisers and the defunct franchise Deccan Chargers.[12]

In IPL 2019, Hyderabad Cricket Association won the award for best ground and pitch.[13]

In IPL 2024, SRH have recorded their highest team total (277/3) against MI & the highest team total in IPL history at this ground which was later broken by the same team against RCB at Bangalore after a fortnight. Following the conclusion of IPL 2024, Hyderabad Cricket Association won the award for best ground and pitch

One-day international cricket

[edit]

Stadium records

[edit]

One day international records

[edit]
Category Information
Highest Innings Total Australia  Australia 350/4 - India v Australia, 1 innings, 5 Nov 2009
Lowest Innings Total England  England 174 - 2 innings, 14 Oct 2011
Highest Individual Score Shubman Gill  India 208 (Balls:149 4x19 6x9) - India v New Zealand, 18 Jan 2023
Best Bowling in a Match Mohammed Siraj  India 4/46 (10 overs) - India v New Zealand, 18 January 2023
Most Runs Yuvraj Singh  India 233 Runs (Mat:3 Inn:3 HS:121 Ave:77.66 SR:94.33 100x2 50x0)
Most Wickets UT Yadav India 6 Wickets (Mat:2 Runs:85 Best:4/53 Ave:14.16 Econ:6.07)

T20 Internationals

[edit]

The ground was scheduled to host its first Twenty20 International on 13 October 2017 against Australia. However, it was called off due to a wet outfield.[17]

The ground hosted its first Twenty20 International on 6 December 2019 against West Indies. It was a high-scoring match, with India winning the match by 6 wickets. India played the 3rd T20 against Australia on September 25, 2022, at this venue. India won by 6 wickets to win the Mastercard T20I trophy. Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 69 runs (36 balls), was awarded the Player of the Match.[18]

Stadium records

[edit]

Twenty20 International records

[edit]
Most career runs at this ground[14]
Runs Player Team Period
157 (2 Innings) Virat Kohli  India 2019–2022
144 (2 Innings) Suryakumar Yadav  India 2022-2024
111 (1 Innings) Sanju Samson  India 2024
72 (2 Innings) Hardik Pandya  India 2022-2024
63 (2 Innings) K. L. Rahul  India 2019–2023

IPL Records

[edit]

Test matches records

[edit]
Most centuries[4]
Centuries Player Period
2 (5 Innings) Cheteshwar Pujara 2012–2018
2 (3 Innings) Murali Vijay 2013–2017
1 (2 Innings) Mushfiqur Rahim 2017
1 (2 Innings) Wriddhiman Saha 2017
1 (2 Innings) Harbhajan Singh 2010–2013
1 (2 Innings) Tim McIntosh 2010
1 (5 Innings) Virat Kohli 2012–2018
1 (4 Innings) Brendon McCullum 2010–2012
1 (2 Innings) Roston Chase 2018
1 (2 Innings) Ollie Pope 2024

Stadium records

[edit]

Facelift

[edit]

The stadium had been selected for renovation prior to the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in 2023. 120 crore Indian rupees had been sanctioned to carry out the work of installing canopies on both east and west stands, as well as replacing seats. However, only the east stand canopy work had been completed before the world cup, and the west stand canopy work has been completed after the World Cup 2023. The floodlights layout changed due to canopies being installed. This is a much needed upgrade as the stadium hasn't undergone any major upgrades since 2005.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium".
  2. ^ spa-aec.com
  3. ^ a b c "Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium - Cricket Ground in Hyderabad, India".
  4. ^ a b Cricket Records | Records | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad | Test matches | Most hundreds | ESPN Cricinfo
  5. ^ "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 - Media Guide" (PDF). ICC. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium - Cricket Ground in Hyderabad, India". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  7. ^ "After the match, HCA plays blame game". The Times of India. 17 November 2003. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  8. ^ "The HCA, at least, is grateful - Chandrababu Naidu okayed lease, setting in motion the construction of an exclusive cricket stadium". www.telegraphindia.com. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  9. ^ a b "IPL 2014 Venues: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket stadium, Hyderabad". India Today. 11 April 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  10. ^ 7Cric. "Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium". Poornima University.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ "Hyderabad stadium's pavilion named after VVS Laxman". The Times of India. 23 August 2012. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  12. ^ Ravindran, Siddarth (4 December 2009). "Ground realities and more for Hyderabad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  13. ^ SUBRAHMANYAM, V. V. (13 May 2019). "Pitch-perfect: HCA a winner in this IPL". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  14. ^ a b Cricket Records | Records | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad | One-Day Internationals | Most runs | ESPN Cricinfo
  15. ^ Cricket Records | Records | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad | One-Day Internationals | High scores | ESPN Cricinfo
  16. ^ Cricket Records | Records | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad | One-Day Internationals | Most hundreds | ESPN Cricinfo
  17. ^ "Hyderabad T20I called off, India-Australia series tied". Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  18. ^ "India beat Australia India won by 6 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) - Australia vs India, Australia in India, 3rd T20I Match Summary, Report | ESPNcricinfo.com". ESPNcricinfo. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  19. ^ "8th Match (N), Hyderabad, March 27, 2024, Indian Premier League (Tim David 42*, Romario Shepherd 15*, Mayank Markande 0/52) - RESULT, SRH vs MI, 8th Match, Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad, March 27, 2024, live score". ESPNcricinfo. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  20. ^ "IPLT20.com - Indian Premier League Official Website - Results". www.iplt20.com. Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  21. ^ Cricket Records | Records | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad | Test matches | Most runs | ESPN Cricinfo
  22. ^ Cricket Records | Records | Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad | Test matches | High scores | ESPN Cricinfo
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.

}}