Established in 2003, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is a world-class cricket venue located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Also known as Uppal Stadium, the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium is named after the former prime minister of India Rajiv Gandhi.
Owned and operated by Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), the stadium has a seating capacity of over 39,000.
The venue is the home ground of Hyderabad cricket team and Hyderabad women's cricket team in domestic cricket. It is also the home ground of the Hyderabad franchise in the Indian T20 League.
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium staged its first international cricket match, a one-day international played between India and South Africa. The visitors won the game by five wickets.
Five years later, the stadium hosted its first Test match played between India and New Zealand in November 2010. The match ended in a draw.
Since then, it has staged five Test matches so far. The ground has also hosted two T20 internationals.
Let’s have a closer look at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Test records and stats.
Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium Test records and stats
Highest total
The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Test cricket. During the only Test of Bangladesh’s tour of India in 2017, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 687/6d after electing to bat first. Captain Kohli led from the front as he slammed 204 off just 246 balls along with contributions from Murali Vijay (108) and Wriddhiman Saha (106 not out). The Indian trios knocks in addition to fifties from Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane helped India register a record total on the board. With the help of their first innings total, India later won the Test by 208 runs.
Lowest total
The West Indies cricket team registered the lowest total at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Tests. The Jason Holder-led visitors were bowled out for 127 in 46.1 overs in their second innings of the second Test of West Indies’ tour of India in 2018. Electing to bat first, West Indies posted 311 before India scored 367 in reply. In the second innings, pacer Umesh Yadav bagged four wickets while Ravindra Jadeja picked three wickets to bundle out West Indies for a low total. Chasing 72, Prithvi Shaw and KL Rahul guided India to a 10-wicket win in Hyderabad. India won the two-match Test series 2-0.
Most runs
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara has scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. The right-handed batter has accumulated 510 runs in four Test matches at a staggering average of 127.50. Pujara has also slammed two hundreds and as many fifties at this venue in Test cricket. His highest Test score of 204 at the Hyderabad Stadium came against Australia in 2013. Virat Kohli is second on the list with 379 runs in four Test matches.
Most wickets
India’s star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up the most wickets at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Test cricket. Between 2012 and 2018, the right-arm off-spinner bagged 27 wickets in four matches at an average of 16.03. He has one four-wicket haul and three fifers at this venue in Tests. Ashwin’s teammate Ravindra Jadeja features second on the list with 15 wickets in three Tests.
Highest individual score
Former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum registered the highest individual score at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Tests. Opening the innings, Brendon McCullum scored 225 off 308 balls against India in their second innings of the second Test during New Zealand’s tour of India in 2010. His magnificent double century was laced with 22 fours and four sixes to help New Zealand salvage a draw in Hyderabad.
Best bowling figures in an innings
India’s Ravichandran Ashwin recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 2012. The right-arm off-spinner registered brilliant figures of 6/31 to help bowl out New Zealand for 159 in their first innings. Ashwin dismissed Martin Guptill, captain Ross Taylor, Daniel Flynn, Jeetan Patel, Trent Boult and Chris Martin as India later enforced follow-on. The hosts won the Hyderabad Test by an innings and 115 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Best bowling figures in a match
Ravichandran Ashwin also holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The veteran spinner took 12 wickets during the first Test of New Zealand’s tour of India in 2012. While Ashwin scalped six wickets for 31 runs in the first innings, he bagged another six wickets for 54 runs in the second innings. Ashwin’s magnificent performance helped India win the Test by an innings and 115 runs. The hosts later won the two-match series 2-0.
Highest partnership
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay recorded the highest partnership at this ground in Test cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay forged a massive 370-run stand for the second wicket in their first innings of the second Test against Australia in 2013. Vijay scored 167 while Pujara slammed 204. India won the Test by an innings and 135 runs. India won the four-match series 4-0.
Photo credit: Alamy
