The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium is Gujarat's first solar-powered stadium located in Rajkot, India.
Also known as the Khandheri Cricket Stadium, the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium was established in 2008 and has a seating capacity of 28,000.
The Rajkot Cricket Stadium is part of a larger sports complex that features venues for other sports such as badminton, basketball, and volleyball as well.
It is the home ground of the Saurashtra team in domestic cricket and also the Indian cricket team.
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium staged its first international cricket match, an ODI between India and England, in January 2013. The visitors won the game by nine runs after scoring 325/4.
It later hosted its first T20 International (T20I) played between India and Australia in October 2013. India chased down Australia’s 201/7 with six wickets and two balls to spare.
Three years later, the stadium hosted its first Test match played between India and England in November 2016. The match ended in a draw.
Since then, it has staged one more Test match so far. Let’s have a closer look at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot Test records and stats.
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot Test records and stats
Highest total
The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Test cricket. During the first Test of the West Indies tour of India in 2018, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth total of 649/9d after electing to bat first. Captain Kohli led from the front as he slammed 139 along with contributions from Prithvi Shaw (134), Ravindra Jadeja (100 not out), Rishabh Pant (92) and Cheteshwar Pujara (86) to help India register a record Test total at the venue. India later bowled out West Indies for 181 and 196 in their two innings to win the Rajkot Test by an innings and 272 runs.
Lowest total
The West Indies cricket team registered the lowest total at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Tests. The Kraigg Brathwaite-led visitors were skittled out for 181 in 48 overs in their first innings of the opening Test of West Indies’ tour of India in 2018. Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets for just 37 runs to help India enforce a follow-on after they posted 649/9d in their first innings. West Indies were once again bowled for 196 in the second innings as they succumbed to an innings defeat.
Most runs
India’s Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli share the record for the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format. Between 2016 and 2018, Pujara amassed 228 runs in two Test matches at an average of 76.00, including one hundred and one fifty. On the other hand, Kohli accumulated 228 runs in two matches at an average of 114. The former India captain has also slammed one hundred at this venue in Test cricket. Among the visiting teams, England's Ben Stokes holds the record for the most Test runs at the venue. The southpaw scored 157 runs in two innings in 2016.
Most wickets
India’s star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up the most wickets at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Test cricket. The right-arm off-spinner scalped nine wickets in two matches at an average of 37.55. He has one four-wicket haul at this ground in Tests. England leg-spinner Adil Rashid features second on the list with seven wickets in the only Test that he played at the venue in 2016.
Highest individual score
India talisman Virat Kohli registered the highest individual score at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Tests. Batting at number four, Kohli scored 139 off 230 balls against West Indies in the first innings of Rajkot Test in 2018. His magnificent century was laced with 10 fours. His innings helped India post a massive total of 649/9d in their first innings. India won the Test by an innings and 272 runs.
Best bowling figures in an innings
India’s Kuldeep Yadav recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 2018. The left-arm wrist spinner registered brilliant figures of 5/57 to help bundle out West Indies for 196 in their second innings. Kuldeep dismissed Kieran Powell, Shai Hope, Shimron Hetmyer, Sunil Ambris and Roston Chase as India later won the Test by an innings and 272 runs..
Best bowling figures in a match
Adil Rashid holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The veteran leg-spinner took seven wickets during the first Test of England’s tour of India in 2016. While Rashid scalped four wickets for 114 runs in the first innings, he bagged three more wickets for 64 runs in the second innings. Rashid’s magnificent performance helped England put the hosts under pressure as they secured a draw in India.
Highest partnership
India’s Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara recorded the highest partnership at this ground in Test cricket. Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara forged a huge 209-run stand for the second wicket in their first innings of the opening Test against England in 2016. Vijay scored 126 while Pujara slammed 124. The Rajkot Test later ended in a draw.
Photo credit: Alamy
