Established in 2003, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, also known as the Hyderabad Cricket Stadium, is located in the eastern suburb of Uppal in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Spread across 15 acres of land, the Hyderabad Cricket Stadium has a maximum capacity of 55,000.
Owned by the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), the venue is home ground for the Hyderabad franchise in the Indian T20 League and also for the Hyderabad Ranji team.
The HCA previously staged its home matches at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in the Fateh Maidan Sports Complex in central Hyderabad.
Visaka Industries Limited won the open auction for the funding of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium with a bid worth ₹65,00,00,000. It was named as Visakha International Cricket Stadium in 2004 after a sum of ₹43,00,00,000 was paid in advance.
However, former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy changed the name of the stadium to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in memory of Rajiv Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India. HCA later acquired the stadium by paying an amount of ₹43,00,00,000 to Visakha.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium staged its first international match, a 50-over ODI format fixture, between India and South Africa in November 2005. Since then, the stadium has hosted six ODIs, five Tests and two T20I international matches.
The stadium has also hosted two Indian T20 League finals, in 2017 and 2019.
The ends at the venue are named Pavilion End and North End. Following VVS Laxman’s retirement, HCA honoured him by naming the North End after him.
The two T20I matches played at the venue so far are India vs South Africa in 2017 and India vs West Indies in 2019. While the tie against the Proteas was abandoned due to rain, India secured a six-wicket win over West Indies the last time a T20I match was held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
The venue is all set to host its third T20I fixture with India facing off against the mighty Australia in the third match of the 2022 T20I series on September 25. Ahead of the tie, let’s have a look at the T20I records at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium T20I records and stats
Highest total: India hold the record for the highest T20I total at this ground. Chasing a steep target of 208 against the West Indies in 2019, the hosts rode on captain Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 94 off just 50 balls and KL Rahul’s 40-ball 62 to post 209/4. Earlier, Shimron Hetmyer’s 56 off 41 balls, Evin Lewis’ 17-ball 40 and skipper Kieron Pollard’s 37 off 19 balls powered West Indies to 207/5 in 20 overs.
Highest individual score: India’s star batter Virat Kohli has registered the highest individual score at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in 2019. Kohli smashed an unbeaten 94 in just 50 balls to guide the Men in Blue to a dominating victory against the West Indies. Kohli’s innings was laced with six sixes and as many fours.
Best bowling figures: India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has the best bowling figures at this venue in T20I format. The leg-spinner picked two wickets for 36 runs in his quota of four overs against West Indies in 2019. Chahal bagged the massive wickets of Shimron Hetmyer and Kieron Pollard during his impressive spell.
Most runs: Virat Kohli has also scored the most runs at this ground in T20I cricket. The swashbuckling batter has scored 94 runs at a strike rate of 188. India opener KL Rahul is second in the list with 62 runs.
Most wickets: Yuzvendra Chahal has picked the most wickets at Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad in the shortest format. The leg-spinner has picked two wickets at this venue at an economy of nine runs per over.
Highest partnership: India’s batters KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have the highest partnership at this venue in T20I cricket. The duo recorded a 100-run partnership for the second wicket against West Indies in 2019. India won the match by six wickets.
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Featured photo: NOAH SEELAM / AFP
