The Vizag Cricket Stadium, currently named the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium, is a picturesque ground located on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
The stadium is named after Yeduguri Sandinti Rajasekhara Reddy, who served as the 14th Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh from 2004 to 2009.
Formerly known as Andhra Cricket Association-Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association Stadium (ACA-VDCA Stadium), the venue was established in 2003.
The Vizag Cricket Stadium staged its first international match, a 50-over ODI format fixture, between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in April 2005. Since then, the stadium has hosted 10 ODIs, two Tests, and three T20 international matches.
Interestingly, the venue is a proposed future home ground for Indian football club Sreenidhi Deccan FC.
With a seating capacity of 27,000, the stadium has two tiers which were designed to evade any restricted view seats, removing pillars or columns that come in the field of view of spectators in some of the other stadiums in the country.
The Indian cricket team has a decent record at this ground in the shortest format, winning twice and suffering one defeat in T20I matches in Vizag.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at the T20 records and stats at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
Vizag Cricket Stadium T20I Records and Stats
Highest total: The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest T20I total (179/5) at this venue. The Men in Blue posted the score against South Africa in 2022. Electing to field, South Africa could only restrict India to 179/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Fifties from Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan helped India post the score. In reply, the Proteas were all out for 131 as India made it 1-2 in the five-match series.
Lowest total: India bowled out Sri Lanka for 82 in a T20I match in 2016, which is the lowest total at this ground in the shortest format. After India elected to field, Ravichandran Ashwin’s 4/8 helped India bundle out Sri Lanka for a below-par score. In response, Shikhar Dhawan (46 not out ) and Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) powered India to a nine-wicket win, chasing down the total in 13.5 overs.
Highest individual score: Indian batter batter Ruturaj Gaikwad registered the highest individual T20I score at the venue in 2022. Playing against South Africa, Gaikwad scored 57 off 35 balls to help India secure a 48-run victory. Gaikwad’s innings was laced with seven fours and two sixes.
Best bowling figures: India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has the best bowling figures at the Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam in the T20I format. The off-spinner picked four wickets for just eight runs in his quota of four overs against Sri Lanka in 2016.
Most runs: Ruturaj Gaikwad has also scored the most runs at this venue in the T20I format. The right-handed opening batter has scored 57 runs at a strike rate of 162.85 in his only game at this venue.
Most wickets: Ravichandran Ashwin has picked the most wickets at Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam in the shortest format. The off-spinner has picked four wickets at this venue at an impressive economy of just two runs per over.
Highest partnership: Indian batters Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan have the highest partnership at this venue in T20I cricket. The duo recorded a 97-run partnership for the first wicket against South Africa in 2022. India eventually posted 179 and won the match by 48 runs.
Vizag Cricket Stadium T20 Records
Highest total: Team Mumbai posted the highest T20 total against Team Delhi at this venue in an Indian T20 League match in 2016. Krunal Pandya’s 37-ball 86 and Martin Guptill’s 48 off 42 balls powered Mumbai to 206/4 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Delhi were bowled out for 126 as Mumbai secured an 80-run victory.
Lowest total: The Karnataka cricket team holds the unwanted record of registering the lowest total at Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in T20 cricket. Chasing a target of 175, Karnataka were skittled out for 66 against Goa in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in 2014. Earlier, Goa posted 174/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Goa won the match by 108 runs.
Highest individual score: Karnataka batter Devdutt Padikkal recorded the highest individual score at this venue in T20 cricket. During a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in 2019, Padikkal smashed an unbeaten 122 off just 60 balls against Andhra. Padikkal’s scintillating ton helped Karnataka chase down 185 as they won the match by five wickets.
Best bowling figures: Australia leg-spinner Adam Zampa registered the best bowling figures at Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in T20 cricket. Zampa picked six wickets for just 19 runs for the now-defunct Pune franchise against Team Hyderabad in 2016. However, Zampa’s incredible bowling performance went in vain as Hyderabad secured a four-run victory.
Most runs: Goa opening batter Sagun Kamat has amassed the most runs at this venue in T20 cricket. Between 2007 and 2018, Kamat accumulated 652 runs in 13 matches at an impressive average of 54.33. He smashed five fifties at this venue.
Most wickets: Former India cricketer Pragyan Ojha has picked the most wickets at this ground in the shortest format. The former left-arm spinner claimed 17 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of 7.25.
Highest partnership: Goa opening batters Swapnil Asnodkar and Sagun Kamat put together the highest partnership at this venue in T20 cricket. Asnodkar (95) and Kamat (51) forged a 145-run partnership for the opening wicket against Karnataka in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in 2014. Goa won the match by 108 runs.
Featured photo: NOAH SEELAM / AFP
