Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium

17°24′23″N 78°33′01″E / 17.40639°N 78.55028°E / 17.40639; 78.55028Establishment2003; 21 years ago (2003)Capacity55,000^[1]OwnerHyderabad Cricket Association (HCA)ArchitectShashi Prabhu^[2]OperatorHCATenantsIndia cricket team (2005–present)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013–present)
Deccan Chargers (2008-2012)End namesNorth end^[3]
Pavellion end^[3]International informationFirst Test12–16 November 2010:
 India v  New ZealandLast Test25–28 January 2024:
 India v  EnglandFirst ODI16 November 2005:
 India v  South AfricaLast ODI10 October 2023:
 Pakistan v  Sri LankaFirst T20I6 December 2019:
 India v  West IndiesLast T20I25 September 2022:
 India v  AustraliaAs of 28 January 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 55,000 and extends across 15 acres of land.^[5] It serves as the home ground the IPL team Sunrisers Hyderabad. As of 28 January 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

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 built 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

Sunrisers Hyderabad 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. Daniel Vettori is the head coach and Simon Helmot is the assistant coach of the team. James Franklin and Muttiah Muralitharan are the bowling coaches of the team. 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.^{[citation needed]}

Its official jersey was unveiled on 8 March 2013, and the team anthem directed by GV Prakash Kumar was released on 12 March 2013. Their logo was unveiled on 20 December 2012, along with the announcement that the team's management would be led by Kris Srikkanth, Tom Moody, and VVS Laxman.^{[citation needed]}

In IPL 2019, Hyderabad Cricket Association won the award for best ground and pitch.^[12]

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 Royal Challengers Bangalore at Bangalore after a fortnight.

One-day international cricket

Stadium records

• Australia had scored 350/4, it is the highest score at the stadium.
• England had scored 174, it is the lowest score at the stadium.
• Yuvraj Singh's 233 scored in three matches is the most of runs scored at the stadium.
• Shubman Gill's 208 is the highest individual score at the stadium.
• Sachin Tendulkar completed 17,000 ODI runs, made his 45th ODI century and received his 60th ODI Man of the match award.
• 697 runs made for the loss of 14 wickets in one match.
• India completed its 500th ODI win at this venue in 2019.
• Pakistan recorded the highest successful run chase in ICC World Cup history when they scored 345/4 chasing a target of 345 runs at this venue in CWC 2023

One day international records

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

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.^[16]

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.^[17]

Stadium records

• 27 sixes were witnessed in one match, which is the most sixes in a T20I game in India.
• 416 runs were scored in one match for the loss of 8 wickets.
• K. L. Rahul reached his milestone of 1000 runs in a T20I at this venue.

Twenty20 International records

Most career runs at this ground[13]
Runs	Player	Team	Period
157 (3 Innings)	Virat Kohli	India	2019-2022
69 (1 Innings)	Suryakumar Yadav	India	2022
63 (2 Innings)	K. L. Rahul	India	2019-2023

IPL Records

• Highest Total: 277/3 – Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. Mumbai Indians, 27 March 2024^[18]
• Highest Individual Score: 126 – David Warner, Sunrisers Hyderabad vs. KKR, 30 April 2017
• Jonny Bairstow and David Warner have scored 114 and 100* in the same innings for SRH against Royal Challengers Bangalore on 31 March 2019
• Best Bowling Figures: 6/12 – Alzarri Joseph, Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad, 6 April 2019

Alzarri Joseph's bowling figures of 6 for 12 are the best recorded in any IPL match.^[19]

Test matches records

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

• Umesh Yadav recorded his first 10 wicket haul in his Test career at this ground on 12 October 2018 against West Indies.
• Ravichandran Ashwin recorded the first 10-wicket haul in Tests at this ground on 23 August 2012 against New Zealand.

Facelift

The stadium had been selected for renovation prior to the ICC ODI Cricket World Cup in 2023. 120 crore Indian rupees had been sanctioned (by BCCI) 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

• List of cricket grounds by capacity
• List of stadiums in India
• List of international cricket grounds in India
• Lists of stadiums

References

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