Former international venue · Kerala
University Stadium, Trivandrum
Palayam, Trivandrum, Kerala. Stadium guide with history, famous matches and records.
- Capacity 20,000
- Opened 1940
- 2 ODIs
Photo: Aswanth Mohan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
University Stadium: key facts
University Stadium is a multi-purpose venue in Palayam, central Thiruvananthapuram, owned by the University of Kerala. It hosted two men's ODIs in the 1980s, including the city's first international cricket match, but no longer appears on the international schedule after cricket moved to the newer Greenfield venue.
- Location
- Palayam, Trivandrum, Kerala
- Capacity
- 20,000Capacity listed by ESPNcricinfo and the stadium reference page.
- Opened
- 1940
- First international
- 1 October 1984India v Australia, 2nd ODI
- Owned or run by
- University of Kerala
- Home teams
- Kerala
- Ends
- Church End and Hotel End
- Floodlights
- No
- Former names
- Kerala University Stadium
- Status
- Former international venue
International matches hosted
- 2ODIs
Counts up to 6 June 2026; first international 1 October 1984, last 25 January 1988.
University Stadium pitch report
ESPNcricinfo lists the venue's cricket surface as grass and matting.
- Ground record lists grass and matting surfaces.
History of University Stadium
University Stadium is in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram and is used mainly for football and athletics, alongside its earlier cricket role. The University of Kerala identifies the venue as having a synthetic athletics track, while cricket-ground records list Kerala as its home team and describe a grass and matting pitch.
The ground staged Thiruvananthapuram's first international cricket match on 1 October 1984, when India met Australia in a rain-affected ODI. India made 175 in a 37-over match and Australia had reached 29/1 before rain ended play. The venue's second and last men's ODI came on 25 January 1988, when West Indies defeated India by nine wickets.
The 1988 match was the last international cricket fixture at University Stadium. When Thiruvananthapuram returned to the international calendar in 2017, the match was held at the new Greenfield stadium instead. University Stadium remains a university sports venue.
Milestones
- 1940
The stadium reference page gives 1940 as the opening year.
- 1984
India and Australia played the ground's first men's ODI on 1 October; rain made the match a no-result.
- 1988
West Indies beat India by nine wickets in the venue's second and final men's ODI on 25 January.
- 2017
International cricket returned to Thiruvananthapuram at the new Greenfield stadium after a 29-year gap.
Famous matches at University Stadium
1 October 1984
India v Australia, 2nd ODI
India were dismissed for 175 in a 37-over match, and Australia were 29/1 when rain stopped play. The result was recorded as a no-result.
25 January 1988
India v West Indies, 7th ODI
India made 239/8, including Kris Srikkanth's 101, but West Indies reached 241/1 in 42.5 overs. Phil Simmons finished unbeaten on 104 as West Indies won by nine wickets.
University Stadium records
Researched ground records, checked against at least one published scorecard source.
| Record | Figure | Match |
|---|---|---|
| Highest individual ODI score | 104* | Phil Simmons, West Indies v India, 1988 |
| Best ODI win margin by wickets | 9 wickets | West Indies v India, 25 January 1988 |
| India's highest individual ODI score at the ground | 101 | Kris Srikkanth, India v West Indies, 25 January 1988 |
How to reach University Stadium
- Nearest airport
- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is the city's airport.
- By train
- Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station serves the city.
- By road
- The stadium is in Palayam, in central Thiruvananthapuram, with access from the PMG Road area.
University Stadium: questions and answers
When was University Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram built?
The stadium reference page gives 1940 as the opening year. ESPNcricinfo lists the cricket ground as established in 1952–53, so the dates may refer to different phases of the venue's history.
What is the capacity of University Stadium?
The listed capacity is 20,000.
Who owns University Stadium?
The venue is owned by the University of Kerala.
Which international cricket matches were played at University Stadium?
It hosted two men's ODIs: India v Australia on 1 October 1984, which ended with no result, and India v West Indies on 25 January 1988, which West Indies won by nine wickets.
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
- University Stadium, Trivandrum — ESPNcricinfo
- University Stadium (Thiruvananthapuram) — Wikipedia
- India v West Indies, 7th ODI, 1988 — ESPNcricinfo scorecard
- Thiruvananthapuram hosts an international cricket match after 29 years, a look back — The News Minute
- A Brief History of the University — University of Kerala
- Palayam View Trivandrum — Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Aswanth Mohan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons