The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, also known as the Hyderabad Cricket Stadium, has hosted many memorable cricket matches. The stadium is located in Uppal, a suburb of Hyderabad, Telangana and was established in 2004.
The venue is spread across 15 acres of land and can hold 55,000 spectators at once. The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is home to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) in India’s domestic circuit, while it also hosts Team Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League.
Before The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium hosted cricket matches in Hyderabad. However, its ownership by the Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh did not provide flexibility to the HCA.
Hence, a new stadium was sanctioned and contracted out to Visaka Industries. After completion, the stadium was initially called the Visaka International Cricket Stadium. However, the HCA later acquired the stadium, renaming it the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, honouring the former prime minister of India.
The two ends at the venue are the Pavilion End and North End. However, HCA renamed the North End after VVS Laxman, who is one the top cricketers produced by Hyderabad.
The first ODI at the Hyderabad Cricket Stadium was held in 2005 between India and South Africa. Since then, seven One Day International (ODI) matches have been played at the stadium. Results have been a mixed bag for the hosts, India, who have won four of the seven matches here.
Here’s a look at the ODI records at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium ODI records
Highest team total
Australia’s 350/4 against India in November 2009 is the highest team total on the ground. The visitors rode on Shaun Marsh’s brilliant century to create the mammoth score. Little Master Sachin Tendulkar’s 141-ball 175 almost proved to be a match-winning innings but India eventually fell short by three runs.
Lowest team total
The lowest team total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in ODIs belongs to England, who were bowled out for 174. It was the same match when India scored 300/7 in October 2011. It is the only score below 200 by a team in ODIs at the ground.
Meanwhile, for India, their 243/10 against Australia in October 2007 remains their lowest team total on the ground.
Average first innings score
The Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium has a reputation for being a high-scoring venue. Batting first has been rewarding here. It boasts an average first innings score of 277. The average second innings score on the ground is 250.
Most runs
Indian all-rounder Yuvraj Singh tops the run-scoring charts in ODIs at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium with 233 runs in three matches. The southpaw scored two centuries and averaged 77.66 with the bat.
Sachin Tendulkar (220) and MS Dhoni (202) are the other players with 200+ runs at the venue. Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina complete an all-Indian top five.
Most wickets
Umesh Yadav, who has scalped six wickets in two matches, is the leading wicket-taker in ODIs at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. The Indian pacer averages a wicket every 14 deliveries.
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav have picked up four wickets, each.
Highest partnership
The New Zealand pair of Mitchell Santner and Michael Bracewell holds the record for the highest partnership at the venue. Their 162-run partnership against India in January 2023 came in a losing cause as New Zealand failed to reach a target of 350 set by India in the first match of a three-match series.
So far, there have been six 100-plus partnerships in ODIs at the Hyderabad Cricket Stadium.
Highest individual score
On January 18, 2023, Team India batter Shubman Gill became the youngest batter to score a double century in ODIs, when he smashed a scintillating 208 runs off 149 balls against New Zealand in January 2023. The knock remains the highest individual score at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in ODIs.
Sachin Tendulkar, known as the God of Cricket, smashed 175 runs off 141 balls against Australia in November 2009, which is the second-highest individual score at the venue.
Best bowling figures
Mohammed Siraj is the second bowler to pick up four wickets in an ODI innings at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. His 4/46 in January 2023 helped India beat New Zealand by 12 runs. Umesh Yadav, too, has picked up a four-for on this ground.
Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin headline the list of seven bowlers with three-wicket hauls in ODIs at the ground.
Photo credits: Alamy
