International venue · Gujarat

Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rajkot

Khandheri, Rajkot, Gujarat. 27 completed matches stored since 18 Oct 2024.

Capacity 28,000
Opened 2008
3 Tests
5 ODIs
6 T20Is
Floodlit

Photo: Arjun Sinh Jadeja, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Niranjan Shah Stadium: key facts

Niranjan Shah Stadium is Saurashtra's main international cricket venue in Khandheri, Rajkot. Opened for cricket in the late 2000s, it has hosted Tests, ODIs, T20Is, women's internationals, Ranji Trophy matches and IPL games. The venue was renamed in honour of former Saurashtra first-class cricketer and administrator Niranjan Shah in February 2024.

Location: Khandheri, Rajkot, Gujarat
Capacity: 28,000The commonly listed capacity is 28,000; some older reports give slightly different figures.
Opened: 2008
First international: 11 January 2013India v England, 1st ODI
Owned or run by: Saurashtra Cricket Association
Home teams: Saurashtra, India national cricket team, India women's national cricket team, Gujarat Lions (IPL, 2016–2017)
Ends: Pavilion End and Media End
Floodlights: Yes
Former names: Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium; Khandheri Cricket Stadium
Status: International venue

International matches hosted

3Tests
5ODIs
6T20Is
3Women's ODIs

Counts up to 6 June 2026; first international 11 January 2013.

Niranjan Shah Stadium pitch report

How the surface usually plays, then the figures from completed matches stored at this ground (average first-innings score is the median).

The venue has a grass surface and is generally described as batting-friendly. The ground has seen high-scoring international matches and triple-centuries by Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja in Ranji Trophy cricket. As at other Indian day-night venues, dew can affect the later limited-overs innings.

Grass pitch
Usually good for stroke-making and large totals
Longer matches can bring greater help for spin as the surface wears
Dew may influence evening limited-overs games.

Pitch and toss figures from stored matches

Pitch and toss figures at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium by format
Format	Matches	Avg 1st innings	Bat-first wins	Chose to bowl	Toss winner won	Highest total
T20 and shorter	24	170	42%	42%	50%	224/4 Rajasthan, 23 Nov 2024
Test and first-class	3	578	100%	0%	100%	585/7 Saurashtra, 16 Nov 2025

Upcoming matches at Niranjan Shah Stadium

No upcoming fixtures at this ground are confirmed.

History of Niranjan Shah Stadium

The Saurashtra Cricket Association acquired about 30 acres near the Jamnagar highway around 2004, began construction in 2006 and moved its offices to the new complex as matches began there in late 2008. The main ground has a 90-yard outfield, while a neighbouring 70-yard ground is used for practice and district cricket. The complex was planned to support other sports as well, including badminton, basketball and volleyball.

The ground first appeared on the international calendar on 11 January 2013, when India played England in an ODI. It hosted its first T20I later that year, an India–Australia match in which Aaron Finch made 89 before India chased 202 with Yuvraj Singh's unbeaten 77. These early limited-overs fixtures established Rajkot as an international venue while Saurashtra continued to use it for domestic cricket.

Rajkot was among the new Indian venues selected for Test cricket in 2015. Its first Test began on 9 November 2016, India against England, and ended in a draw. The stadium also served as the home venue of Gujarat Lions for IPL 2016 and 2017, and has since hosted further India men's and women's internationals, along with regular Saurashtra fixtures.

The Saurashtra Cricket Association announced the renaming on 6 February 2024, and the new name was formally unveiled on 14 February, before the third India–England Test at the ground. The stadium now carries the name of Niranjan Shah, who played first-class cricket for Saurashtra and later became a long-serving administrator of the association. Its international programme has continued after the change, including men's white-ball matches in January 2026.

Milestones

2004
About 30 acres near the Jamnagar highway were sanctioned for the cricket complex.
2006
Construction of the main stadium began.
2008
The venue began hosting matches and is listed as established in 2008.
2013
India v England became the ground's first international match, followed by its first T20I against Australia.
2016
The ground hosted its first Test, India v England, and became a Gujarat Lions home venue in the IPL.
2024
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium was renamed Niranjan Shah Stadium on 14 February.

Famous matches at Niranjan Shah Stadium

11 January 2013
India v England, 1st ODI
This was the ground's first international match. England made 325 and India finished nine runs short, giving the new venue a high-scoring opening ODI.
10 October 2013
India v Australia, 1st T20I
Aaron Finch scored 89 as Australia set India a target of 202. India chased it with two balls left, with Yuvraj Singh unbeaten on 77 from 35 balls.
9 November 2016
India v England, 1st Test
Rajkot staged its first Test when India met England in November 2016. The match ended in a draw and marked the venue's arrival as a Test ground.
15 February 2024
India v England, 3rd Test
The first Test after the renaming began one day after the stadium was formally named for Niranjan Shah. India won the match by a large margin after scoring 445 in the first innings.

Niranjan Shah Stadium records

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

Ground records at Niranjan Shah Stadium
Record	Figure	Match
Highest Test total	649/9 dec	India v West Indies, 2018
Lowest Test total	122 all out	England v India, 2024
Highest ODI total	435/5	India Women v Ireland Women, 2025
Highest T20I total	228/5	India v Sri Lanka, 2023

How to reach Niranjan Shah Stadium

By road: The stadium is in Khandheri, near the Rajkot–Jamnagar highway; local taxis and city buses are the practical onward options from Rajkot.
Address: Khandheri, Rajkot, Gujarat, India

Niranjan Shah Stadium: questions and answers

When was Niranjan Shah Stadium built?

The site was acquired around 2004, construction began in 2006 and the venue began hosting matches in late 2008. It is commonly listed as established in 2008 or opened in 2009.

What is the capacity of Niranjan Shah Stadium?

The listed capacity is 28,000 spectators.

Who owns Niranjan Shah Stadium?

The Saurashtra Cricket Association owns and operates the stadium.

Which team plays home matches at Rajkot?

Saurashtra is the principal domestic home team. India and India Women also use the venue for international fixtures, and Gujarat Lions used it as an IPL home ground in 2016 and 2017.

What was the first international match at the stadium?

India played England in the first ODI on 11 January 2013. The first Test followed in November 2016, and the first T20I was against Australia in October 2013.

Why is the stadium called Niranjan Shah Stadium?

The Saurashtra Cricket Association renamed its Rajkot venue on 14 February 2024 in honour of Niranjan Shah, a former Saurashtra first-class cricketer and long-serving association administrator.

More cricket stadiums in Gujarat

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