Niranjan Shah Stadium – Overview of History and Characteristics

Historical Background

Initially, the Niranjan Shah Stadium was being used for Ranji Trophy matches when the stands were still being constructed. With the stands completed, the stadium can hold 28,000 people.

The Niranjan Shah Stadium is a part of a larger sports complex that includes venues for other sports, such as badminton, basketball, and volleyball. It hosts Saurashtra Cricket Association matches along with the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground.

Construction began in 2006, and the total cost, including land, is said to be about ₹75 crore. There are two grounds for cricket. One is the main ground that started hosting first-class matches in 2009 and is 90 meters long. The other, which is right beside it, is 70 meters long and is mainly used for district matches.

Stadium’s Design: Sustainability Efforts

Niranjan Shah Stadium has a solar rooftop setup. That array is built to churn out about 82,000 units of solar energy each year, and it ends up slashing the electricity bill by roughly ₹54,600 every month. LED lights are designed to be energy savvy. They are fitted all over, even over the playing field, which means less power is used than with old-school lights.

Then there’s a rainwater system. It collects rain and puts the water to work for things like irrigation and non-drinking uses around the facility. It really cuts down how much the venue leans on municipal water.

Memorable Tournaments at Niranjan Shah Stadium

The Niranjan Shah Stadium has hosted a variety of major domestic and international tournaments over the years. Below is our look at the key tournaments that have taken place at this venue:

• Rajkot Championship League;
• Inter District Tajawala Trophy;
• Jai Hind Trophy;
• SCA Senior Men T20 League.

Key Achievements Recorded

The Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium is definitely not the most popular in the country. Though it has hosted a limited number of international matches, several records and standout performances have been set here:

• A total of 649 runs was recorded in a single Test innings — the venue’s highest ever;
• Only 3 Test matches have been played here, with an unusually high 1st innings average of 543 runs;
• India scored 435 in an ODI, one of their biggest totals at home;
• In ODIs, teams batting first have won 6 out of 7 matches — an unusually dominant trend;
• Despite a few matches, the ground has seen one Test end in a tie — a rare outcome in the format;
• Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja both scored triple centuries in Ranji Trophy matches at this ground;
• The stadium hosted two international matches, both with high scores;

During a T20I clash between Australia and India, Aaron Finch scored 89 to set a target of 202;
Yuvraj Singh’s unbeaten 77 off 35 balls helped India win the T20I with two balls remaining.

Final Words

Rajkot’s Niranjan Shah Stadium, Gujarat’s pioneering solar-powered cricket ground, highlights India’s dedication to eco-friendly sports facilities. It generates around 82,000 units of solar energy annually and features a rainwater harvesting setup. Although it has hosted only a few international matches since opening in 2013, the stadium has seen some impressive feats, such as a 649-run Test innings along with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja scoring triple centuries during domestic play.

The stadium is clearly favourable to batters. This is supported by the remarkably high first-innings Test average of 543 runs, along with teams batting first often succeeding in ODIs.

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