India Srilanka ODI Venues
Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground, Rajkot
Built 1986
The Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground in Rajkot is one of the smallest grounds of India with a seating capacity for merely 15,000 spectators. It has hosted 11 ODIs of which India have played in 10, winning five and losing as many.
The last One-dayer played on this ground was a run-glut, featuring India and Kevin Pietersen’s England team in November 2008. India piled up a huge 387 runs and carved out a massive 158-run victory.
The statistic shows the Rajkot track has been a batting paradise since the last decade.
The tinge of grass generally left on the wicket does assist the seamers in the early part of the day before the sun bakes it into a batting track. The quick outfield also makes life easier for the batsmen.
India have won four of the last five games they have played here, the only loss has come against the Lankans in 2007.
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, VCA Stadium (Nagpur)
Built in 2008
The newly-built stadium at Jamtha has already acquired a reputation of being one of the best in the country.
It boasts of a true wicket, where both batsmen and bowlers can use the conditions to their advantage. The first match that it hosted was the 4th Test between India and Australia (Nov, 2008), which India won by 172 runs. Interestingly, the Aussie spinner Jason Krejza had finished with 12 wickets and Harbhajan Singh with seven.Â
Spread over 33 acres, it has all the modern amenities, including wi-fi environment and a capacity of accommodating 45,000 people.
Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, VCA Stadium (Nagpur)
Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
Built 1951
The Barabati Stadium in Cuttack has a capacity of about 35,000 spectators. The ground has hosted 15 One-day internationals since 1982 and two Tests since 1987. It’s a beautiful stadium and one of its distinguishing features is its clock tower.
The last ODI at the venue was when India defeated England by six wickets in November, 2008.
The Barabati wicket is often a sporting one, as it offers a good contest between bat and ball. It becomes a good batting track after assisting the fast bowlers in the first hour and also offers good bounce as well.
The dew factor comes into play during the day-night encounters, which explains why the teams chasing totals have won 8 of the 15 ODIs played here.
While the lush-green outfield makes fielding an enjoyable experience, the evening dew on the grass does soften the ball to the batsmen’s liking.
It has been a happy hunting ground for India, as they have won 8 out of the 13 ODIs played here, with one match abandoned due to rain.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata (Kolkata)
Built 1864
One of the oldest stadia of India, Eden Gardens has been the most revered venue for cricketers around the world. When packed to its full capacity, Eden Gardens is deafened with the roars of close to 1,00,000 passionate fans.
The stadium has hosted 35 Tests and 21 ODIs since 1934 and has been a witness to several glorious moments of cricket.
That miraculous day when India snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat against Australia in 2001 glorified the greatness of the venue even more. VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Harbhajan Singh were the three men who made the Eden Gardens look more beautiful than most stadiums in the world.
The last ODI on this ground was a washed-out affair between India and Sri Lanka in 2007.
The Eden pitch, like most others, has been a little partial towards the batsmen and has produced decent amount of runs. The winter-dew has been a concern among the captains in day-night matches.
Incidentally, only once has a team managed to post a total of over 300 in an ODI and the honour goes to Sri Lanka – they scored 309 against Pakistan in 1997. Two best performers of that match – Sanath Jayasuriya (55 runs) and Muttiah Muralitharan (3 for 40) – are still a part of the visiting team.
Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium (New Delhi)
Built in 1883
One of the oldest cricket stadiums in India, Feroz Shah Kotla was built in 1883. It derives its name from one of the emperors of Delhi, Feroz Shah Tuglaq, who had built a fortress during his rule between 1351 and 1388.
The modern stadium is part of the imposing fortress complex. The stadium has the distinction of hosting Independent India’s first Test match against the John Goddard-led West Indies team in 1948-49.
Traditionally known to be a spinners delight, Kotla has witness some memorable performances by spinners. In 1965, S Venkatraghavan had run through the New Zealand batting line-up with splendid figures of 8 for 72 and 4 for 80. In 1999, Anil Kumble emulated Jim Laker’s world record by taking a perfect 10 for 74 against Pakistan.
Currently, the stadium is undergoing renovation. It now boasts of floodlights and all other modern amenities and has a capacity of 40,000. The Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), which manages the stadium, is working on laying brand new pitches, which are believed to aid fast bowlers.