Former international venue · Kerala

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi

Kaloor, Kochi, Kerala. Stadium guide with history, famous matches and records.

Capacity 41,000
Opened 1996
9 ODIs
Floodlit

Photo: Thesixserra, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: key facts

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, also called Kaloor Stadium, is a multipurpose venue in Kaloor, Kochi. It opened in 1996 and hosted nine men's ODIs, plus four women's ODIs, before international cricket stopped after 2014. The ground remains primarily a football venue.

Location: Kaloor, Kochi, Kerala
Capacity: 41,000Current published capacity is 41,000; older references list 60,000, and 25,000 is also cited.
Opened: 1996
First international: 1 April 1998India v Australia, 1st ODI
Owned or run by: Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA)
Home teams: Kerala cricket team (former), India (international cricket, former), Kochi Tuskers Kerala (IPL, 2011)
Ends: Road End and Media End
Floodlights: Yes
Former names: Kaloor International Stadium; Kaloor Stadium
Status: Former international venue

International matches hosted

9ODIs
4Women's ODIs

Counts up to 6 June 2026; first international 1 April 1998, last 8 October 2014.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium pitch report

The cricket surface was grass-covered and was described by ESPNcricinfo as favourable to batting in the ground's early ODI years. The available sources do not establish a reliable current cricket assessment of soil, spin assistance or dew behaviour, so those details are omitted.

Grass surface is documented.
Early ODI reports described the venue as batting-friendly.

History of Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

The stadium was built in 1996 under the Greater Cochin Development Authority and was designed as a multipurpose ground. Its cricket-serving stands, floodlights and large bowl made it suitable for televised limited-overs matches, while football also became an important part of the venue's use. The ground is in Kaloor, close to central Kochi.

International cricket began with India v Australia on 1 April 1998. The venue later staged ODIs involving South Africa, Pakistan, England, Australia, Zimbabwe and West Indies. It also hosted five of Kochi Tuskers Kerala's seven home IPL matches in 2011. The last men's ODI was India v West Indies on 8 October 2014.

Football became the stadium's main use after the Kerala Blasters entered the Indian Super League in 2014. Cricket pitches were subsequently removed to meet FIFA requirements before the 2017 FIFA Under-17 World Cup, and cricket did not return as an international programme. The venue has had renovations, including work associated with the 2017 tournament; current published information identifies the GCDA as owner and operator.

Milestones

1996
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium was opened in Kaloor as a multipurpose sports venue.
1998
India played the ground's first ODI, defeating Australia by 41 runs on 1 April.
2011
Kochi Tuskers Kerala played their first IPL match at the venue on 9 April.
2014
The last men's ODI at the ground was played on 8 October, and Kerala Blasters began using it for the ISL season.
2017
The stadium hosted FIFA Under-17 World Cup matches after renovation and safety-related capacity restrictions.

Famous matches at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

1 April 1998
India v Australia, 1st ODI
India made 309/5 and won by 41 runs. Ajay Jadeja scored 105 not out, while Sachin Tendulkar took 5/32.
2 April 2005
India v Pakistan, ODI
India scored 281/8 and beat Pakistan by 87 runs. Virender Sehwag made 108 and Sachin Tendulkar took 5/50.
8 October 2014
India v West Indies, 4th ODI
West Indies made 321/6, the highest ODI total recorded at the venue, and won by 124 runs. Marlon Samuels scored 126 not out.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium records

Researched ground records, checked against at least one published scorecard source.

Ground records at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Record	Figure	Match
Highest ODI total	321/6	West Indies v India, 8 October 2014
Highest ODI individual score	126 not out	Marlon Samuels, West Indies v India, 8 October 2014
Best ODI bowling figures	5/32	Sachin Tendulkar, India v Australia, 1 April 1998
Highest successful ODI chase	302/7	India v South Africa, 9 March 2000

How to reach Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 26.1 km from the venue according to the Indian Super League venue listing.
By train: Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town railway stations serve Kochi; use local transport for the final leg.
By metro: JLN Stadium Metro Station on the Kochi Metro Blue Line, about 500 m from the venue.
By road: The stadium is on Stadium Link Road in Kaloor, near Banerji Road and NH 66; taxis and city buses serve the area.
Address: Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Stadium Link Road, Kaloor, Kochi, Kerala 682017

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium: questions and answers

When was Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi built?

It opened in 1996. It is also commonly known as Kaloor Stadium or Kaloor International Stadium.

How many international cricket matches were played at the stadium?

The ground has hosted nine men's ODIs and four women's ODIs, with men's ODI dates from 1 April 1998 to 8 October 2014.

Why does Kochi no longer host international cricket at this stadium?

The ground shifted towards football, and its cricket pitches were removed for FIFA requirements before the 2017 Under-17 World Cup. Cricket then moved to other Kerala venues.

Which metro station is nearest to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Kochi?

JLN Stadium Metro Station is the nearest Kochi Metro stop. The Indian Super League venue listing places it about 500 metres from the stadium.

More cricket stadiums in Kerala

Every ground in India that has hosted an international, with its history, capacity and pitch. See all cricket stadiums in India.

Sources for this stadium guide