Niranjan Shah Stadium, formerly the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium and also known as Khandheri Cricket Stadium, is an international cricket stadium in Rajkot, Gujarat, India. It is India’s second and Gujarat’s first solar-powered cricket stadium.
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Quick Facts
| Location | Khandheri, near Rajkot, Gujarat |
| Inaugurated | 2009 |
| Capacity | Approximately 28,000 (with plans floated for expansion) |
| Owner/Operator | Saurashtra Cricket Association |
| Renamed | 14 February 2024, after Niranjan Shah |
| First ODI | January 2013, India vs England |
| First T20I | 10 October 2013, India vs Australia |
| First Test | 9 November 2016, India vs England |
History
Built roughly 10 km outside Rajkot, the stadium was conceived to give the Saurashtra cricket region a modern, international-standard venue. It hosted its first international match, an ODI between India and England, in January 2013, and staged its first T20I later that year — a match remembered for Aaron Finch’s 89 and Yuvraj Singh’s return to international cricket with an unbeaten 77 as India chased down 201.
In November 2015, the venue was named one of six new Test venues in India, alongside grounds including the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium and Holkar Stadium. Its first Test, against England in November 2016, ended in a draw. The stadium also briefly served as a home ground for the Gujarat Lions during the 2016 IPL season, hosting five matches.
On 14 February 2024, the stadium was renamed in honour of Niranjan Shah, a former first-class cricketer from Saurashtra and long-serving honorary secretary of the Saurashtra Cricket Association, ahead of a Test match at the venue.
Notable Events
- 2018 – India posts 649/9 declared against West Indies, the highest Test total recorded at the venue, built around a century from captain Virat Kohli (139) and contributions from Prithvi Shaw, Ravindra Jadeja, Rishabh Pant, and Cheteshwar Pujara.
- The venue has become associated with big scores from Saurashtra’s own stars, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja, in domestic cricket.
Records
- Highest Test total: 649/9 declared, India vs West Indies (2018) — India won by an innings and 272 runs.
- Highest individual Test score: Virat Kohli, 139 vs West Indies (2018).
- Best bowling figures (Test): Kuldeep Yadav, 5/57 vs West Indies (2018).
Sustainability
The stadium has implemented a solar rooftop system generating an estimated 82,000 units of solar power annually, contributing to significant monthly savings on its electricity costs, as part of its broader sustainability initiatives.
Access
Niranjan Shah Stadium is located along the Jamnagar–Rajkot Highway, on the outskirts of Rajkot city.
Related Stadiums
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad — Gujarat’s largest and most famous cricket venue.
- Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, Vadodara — another major Gujarat international cricket ground.
- Holkar Stadium, Indore — a fellow venue named a new Test venue in 2015.
- HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala — another stadium added to India’s Test roster in the same 2015 announcement.
This article is written in a Wikipedia-style format for reference and general information purposes.
