Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium
Uppal Stadium
	The Rajiv Gandhi International cricket Stadium Under floodlights
Ground information
Location	Uppal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Coordinates	17°24′23″N 78°33′01″E / 17.40639°N 78.55028°E
Establishment	2003; 21 years ago
Capacity	55,000
Owner	Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA)
Architect	Shashi Prabhu
Operator	HCA
Tenants	India cricket team (2005–present); Sunrisers Hyderabad (2013–present); Deccan Chargers (2008-2012)
	End names
	North end; Pavellion end
International information
First Test	12–16 November 2010:; India v New Zealand
Last Test	25–28 January 2024:; India v England
First ODI	16 November 2005:; India v South Africa
Last ODI	10 October 2023:; Pakistan v Sri Lanka
First T20I	6 December 2019:; India v West Indies
Last T20I	25 September 2022:; India v Australia
	As 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

Most career runs^[13]
Runs	Player	Team	Period
233 (3 Innings)	Yuvraj Singh	India	2005-2009
220 (3 Innings)	Sachin Tendulkar	India	2005-2009
208 (1 Innings)	Shubman Gill	India	2023
202 (5 Innings)	MS Dhoni	India	2005-2019
142 (4 Innings)	Virat Kohli	India	2011-2023
138 (3 Innings)	Suresh Raina	India	2009-2014

Highest Individual Scores^[14]
Runs	Player	Team	Year
208 vs New Zealand	Shubman Gill	India	2023
175 vs Australia	Sachin Tendulkar	India	2009
140 vs India	Michael Bracewell	New Zealand	2023
131* vs Sri Lanka	Mohammad Rizwan	Pakistan	2023
122 vs Pakistan	Kusal Mendis	Sri Lanka	2023
121 vs Australia	Yuvraj Singh	India	2007
118 vs India	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	2014
113 vs Sri Lanka	Abdullah Shafique	Pakistan	2023
112 vs India	Shaun Marsh	Australia	2009
108 vs Pakistan	Sadeera Samarawickrama	Sri Lanka	2023
103 vs South Africa	Yuvraj Singh	India	2005

Most centuries^[15]
Centuries	Player	Team	Period
2 (3 Innings)	Yuvraj Singh	India	2005-2009
1 (3 Innings)	Sachin Tendulkar	India	2005-2009
1 (1 Innings)	Shaun Marsh	Australia	2009
1 (1 Innings)	Mahela Jayawardene	Sri Lanka	2014
1 (1 Innings)	Michael Bracewell	New Zealand	2023
1 (1 Innings)	Shubman Gill	India	2023
1 (2 Innings)	Mohammad Rizwan	Pakistan	2023
1 (1 Innings)	Kusal Mendis	Sri Lanka	2023
1 (1 Innings)	Sadeera Samarawickrama	Sri Lanka	2023

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 career runs^[20]
Runs	Player	Nationality	Period
510 (5 Innings)	Cheteshwar Pujara	India	2012-2018
379 (4 Innings)	Virat Kohli	India	2012-2018
293 (4 Innings)	Brendon McCullum	New Zealand	2010-2012
282 (3 Innings)	Murali Vijay	India	2013-2017
203 (4 Innings)	Virender Sehwag	India	2010-2013
197 (2 Innings)	Ollie Pope	England	2024
190 (3 Innings)	Ajinkya Rahane	India	2017-2018
175 (6 Innings)	Ravindra Jadeja	India	2013-2024
157 (4 Innings)	Kane Williamson	New Zealand	2010-2012

Highest individual score^[21]
Runs	Player	Nationality	Year
225 vs India	Brendon McCullum	New Zealand	2010
204 vs Bangladesh	Virat Kohli	India	2017
204 vs Australia	Cheteshwar Pujara	India	2013
196 vs India	Ollie Pope	England	2024
167 vs Australia	Murali Vijay	India	2013
159 vs New Zealand	Cheteshwar Pujara	India	2012
127 vs India	Mushfiqur Rahim	Bangladesh	2017
111* vs New Zealand	Harbhajan Singh	India	2010
108 vs Bangladesh	Murali Vijay	India	2017
106* vs Bangladesh	Wriddhiman Saha	India	2017
106 vs India	Roston Chase	West Indies	2018
102 vs India	Tim McIntosh	New Zealand	2010

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, 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.