not available
Cricket Football Tennis F1
Menu Hockey Mobile Downloads
Venues
DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Mumbai's newest stadium will host the games of IPL's newest franchise - the Pune XI. Previously, it hosted the Hyderabad XI in 2010 (when they were forced to move out of Hyderabad due to political unrest in the region) as well as final of that tournament which the Mumbai Indians lost to the Chennai XI, much to the disappointment of the capacity crowd. The ground is notable for being spectator friendly with a clever architectural design making for unobstructed viewing from all parts. It has one of the best drainage facilities amongst Indian venues - making sure play can restart quickly after a rain interruption. The pitch favours the batsmen, but there is reward for bowlers who can maintain a good line and length and for spinners who give the ball a fair tweak.
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
One of the oldest cricket stadia in the country, Eden Gardens has witnessed some thrilling contests between bat and ball. The majestic arena first hosted a test-match in 1934 when Douglas Jardine's Englishmen eased to victory over the hosts inside four days. Since then, a trip to Eden Gardens has become something of a pilgrimage for international cricketers. When filled to its massive 90,000 capacity, the ground is one of the most stunning sights in world cricket and cricketers have been spurred to great feats by the presence of the screaming multitudes. It was at this ground In March 2001 that VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid took India to one of the most remarkable test match wins of all time - snapping a rampant Australia's 16-match winning streak in the process. At times though, the passion of the crowd has devolved into jingoism, with riots disrupting matches against the West Indies (1966-67) and Australia (1969-70) and a called-off World Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka (1996). Having missed out on the marquee ICC Cricket World Cup clash between India and England, the Kolkata crowd will be keen to make up for it by providing raucous support for the Kolkata XI.
Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, Delhi
Established in the pre-independence era as the Willingdon Pavilion, Feroz Shah Kotla has seen its fair share of cricket history - none bigger than Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul in the second innings against Pakistan in the 1999. The stadium hosted its first cricket match and independent India's first Test match on November 10, 1948, when it was one of the venues during West Indies' tour of the country. However, Kotla came under severe scrutiny during a one-day international between India and Sri Lanka in December 2009, when the pitch conditions were termed as 'unfit' to host a match. However, after successfully hosting World Cup games, the ground is ready to reclaim its place as one of the most majestic venues in India. Expect it to be packed to the rafters when the Delhi XI take on opposition teams in the T20 League.
Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore
The Holkar stadium is not widely known in cricket circles but has held two high-profile matches, both involving India and England in 2006 and 2008. India won both the games, chasing 288 with ease in the first game and winning by 54 runs after setting 293 for the visitors to chase. The stadium also hosts home games for Madhya Pradesh in the Ranji Trophy. As is obvious, the pitch is batsman friendly, although it tends to take turn during the later stages of the game.
HPCA Cricket Stadium, Dharamsala
One of India's most picturesque stadiums, Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium will host three matches involving the Mohali XI in Indian T20 League 2011. With a lush green outfield and snow-capped mountains in the background - it is an idyllic setting for a cricket game. The ground is situated at a height of 1,457 meters; the relatively rare atmosphere and the wind blowing in from the mountains makes it one of the few places in India that assist the swing bowlers. It hosted two games in T20 League 2010 - both of which were lost by the Mohali XI.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,Kochi
Originally meant for football, the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will be the home ground for new T20 League franchise, the Kochi XI. The stadium is another one of Sachin Tendulkar's favourites - but with the ball. The maestro has taken five wicket hauls twice here, the first being a match-winning 5 for 32 against Australia back in 1998 and and second being an equally effective 5 for 50 against Pakistan in 2005. Like most pitches in India, the Kochi surface rewards batsmen who are not scared of hitting through the line and on the up. Of the six One day Internationals held here, three have produced scores of more than 300 for at least one team.
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
The stadium witnessed the great Sunil Gavaskar's swansong innings in 1987 while West Indian legends Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards started their test careers here. This international venue is named after former BCCI president M Chinnaswamy, and hosted its debut test-match back in 1974 when India hosted the West Indies. During big games, the stadium is packed to its 40,000 capacity of appreciative cricket fans who are known for their sporting nature. The Chinnaswamy Stadium will serve as the home ground of the Bangalore XI in the 2011 T20 Leauge season.
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The MA Chidambaram Stadium is named after the former BCCI President who held office from 1960 to 1963. There have been a number of significant firsts on this ground, including India's first ever test win in 1951-52 when they defeated England by an innings and eight runs. Other records that stand out include Sunil Gavaskar's record breaking 30th Test hundred in 1983-84. This stadium also played host to the tied-test between India and Australia in 1986 - only the second such instance in test history. The Chennai crowd is famous for its knowledge of the game and appreciation of good performances, regardless of nationality. This spirit was evident in 1997, when Saeed Anwar scored the then-highest ODI score of 194 and received a standing ovation from the locals. In fact, so sporting is the crowd that the Pakistani team in response made a lap of honour in appreciation of them after winning a test-match in 1999. The last match played here was in March 2008 when India and South Africa accumulated just under 1500 runs in five days. Virender Sehwag hit 319 in that game and holds the distinction of the highest test-scorer at the ground. The match ended in a draw with 3 other centuries from Hashim Amla, Neil Mackenzie, and Rahul Dravid - who also got his 10,000th Test run at this venue.
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali
The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali is the 19th Test venue in India. The sporting pitch has produced many a good contest between bat and ball, and the lush green outfield ensures batsmen can score a lot of their runs through boundaries. The venue also provides world-class training and practice facilities. Situated on the outskirts of Chandigarh, the ground's transformation from a swamp to one of the best and largest stadiums in the country took three years and Rs 25 crore. The stadium was inaugurated with a one-day international match between India and South Africa in 1993 and hosted its first Test match the following season, during the West Indies' tour of India. It will be the home ground of Mohali XI in the 2011 T20 League season.
Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad
Completed in 2004, the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium is a reflection of India's economic prosperity. Possessing all the trappings of modernity, the venue is the new home of the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). Despite its young history (the ground has hosted only three One-day Internationals), the ground has already produced a memorable encounter - that between Australia and India in 2009. The Australians scored 350 on a magnificent batting pitch and the Indians fell three runs short, despite a magnificent 175 from Sachin Tendulkar. The pitch is a batsman's paradise and high scoring encounters are expected every time the Hyderabad XI take on T20 League opposition.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur
Situated in the bustling capital of Rajasthan, the Sawai Mansingh Stadium has made its name as one of the most respected venues in India and currently plays host to 2008 T20 League champions Jaipur XI. The first One Day International (between India and Pakistan) was played here in 1983 and since then it has seen many marquee matches, including a World Cup match between England and West Indies in 1987. However, the current generation will remember the ground for the whirlwind 183 that Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit against Sri Lanka in 2005. However, it was only after the major renovation in 2006 that the ground really rose to prominence - hosting a number of ICC Champions Trophy games in 2006-07.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
One of India's showpiece venues, Mumbai's Wankhede stadium has a seating capacity of 50000 and boasts of a unique pitch prepared on red soil. The seaside location of the ground helps the swing bowlers get a fair amount of assistance during the early part of each day. The pitch traditionally helps spinners but those willing to buy time at the crease have always scored heavily here. The Wankhede stadium has stands named after famous Mumbai cricketers like Vijay Merchant, Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. It will be the home ground of Tendulkar's Mumbai XI in the 2011 Indian T20 League.
Home Back to top
@ESPN STAR SPORTS 2010
Powered by Mobile ESPN