Sawai Mansingh Stadium, popularly known as SMS Stadium, is a cricket stadium located in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. It is owned by the Government of Rajasthan and operated by the Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA). The stadium is the home ground of the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.
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Quick Facts
| Location | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Built | 1969, during the reign of Sawai Man Singh II |
| Capacity | Reported between approximately 23,000 and 30,000 depending on source |
| Owner | Government of Rajasthan (operated by RCA) |
| Home team(s) | Rajasthan cricket team, Rajasthan Royals (IPL) |
| First ODI | 1983, India vs Pakistan |
| First Test | February 1987, India vs Pakistan |
History
The stadium was built in 1969 and named after Sawai Man Singh II, the last ruling Maharaja of Jaipur State. It hosted its first ODI in 1983, a match India won by four wickets against Pakistan. Its solitary Test match, played in February 1987 against Pakistan, gained historical significance when Pakistan President General Zia-ul-Haq attended the second day’s play as part of a “Cricket for Peace” diplomatic initiative — though the match itself ended in a draw amid controversy over the pitch conditions.
A major renovation in 2006, costing around ₹400 crore, added floodlights, new media facilities, and additional stands ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. A dedicated cricket academy was also built on the grounds. Between 2013 and 2018, the Rajasthan Cricket Association faced a suspension that prevented the stadium from hosting international matches; it returned to the international calendar with a T20I in 2019.
Notable Events
- 1987 – Hosts a Test between India and Pakistan attended by both countries’ leaders as a gesture of cricket diplomacy.
- 2008 – Rajasthan Royals, led by Shane Warne, win the inaugural IPL season with Sawai Mansingh Stadium as a key home fortress; Sohail Tanvir claims the first six-wicket haul in IPL history here.
- 2013–14 ODI – India’s 362/1 against Australia remains the highest total recorded at the venue.
- 2025 – Vaibhav Suryavanshi scores a century in 35 balls, the fastest hundred recorded at the venue in IPL history.
Records
- Highest ODI total: 362/1, India vs Australia (2013–14).
- Lowest ODI total: 125, England vs India.
- Highest individual ODI score: MS Dhoni, 183* (31 October 2005).
- Best IPL bowling figures: Sohail Tanvir, 6/14 vs Chennai Super Kings (2008) — the first six-wicket haul in IPL history.
- Highest individual IPL score: Virat Kohli, 113* (IPL 2024).
- This venue also saw the first-ever ODI opening partnership between Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, one of India’s most prolific opening pairs.
Facilities
Renovations have added sheltered seating, refreshment areas, and modern press and broadcast facilities, along with the RCA’s cricket academy, which includes a gym, restaurant, conference halls, and a swimming pool.
Access
Sawai Mansingh Stadium is centrally located in Jaipur, close to Jaipur Junction railway station, with nearby landmarks including Amar Jawan Jyoti.
Related Stadiums
- Barkatullah Khan Stadium, Jodhpur — Rajasthan’s other major cricket venue.
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi — fellow North Zone venue with comparable Test history.
- I. S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali — another North Zone international ground.
- Holkar Stadium, Indore — a fellow high-scoring, batting-friendly Indian venue.
