Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium facts for kids
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Interior of the stadium under floodlights.
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| Location | Sector-3 Nava Raipur, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India |
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| Coordinates | 21°12′15″N 81°49′24″E / 21.20417°N 81.82333°E | ||||
| Establishment | 11 September 2008 | ||||
| Capacity | 65,000 | ||||
| Owner | Government of Chhattisgarh | ||||
| Operator | Chhattisgarh State Cricket Sangh | ||||
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| North End South End |
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| International information | |||||
| First ODI | 21 January 2023: India v  New Zealand |
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| First T20I | 1 December 2023: India v  Australia |
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| Team information | |||||
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| As of 1 December 2023 Source: ESPNcricinfo |
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The Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium is a huge sports ground in Nava Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. It is also known as the Nava Raipur International Cricket Stadium. This stadium can hold 65,000 people, making it one of the biggest cricket stadiums in the world! It is the third largest in India and the fourth largest globally. In 2023, it became India's 50th stadium to host international cricket matches.
The stadium opened in 2008. Its very first match was in 2010, when the Canada national cricket team played a practice game against the Chhattisgarh team. Since 2013, it has been a second home for the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The first international match here was an exciting One Day International (ODI) between India and New Zealand in 2023, which India won. The stadium is named after Veer Narayan Singh Binjhwar, a local hero from 1857.
Contents
Welcome to a Giant Cricket Stadium!
Where is This Amazing Stadium?
This big stadium is located in Sector-3 of Nava Raipur. It is near Sendh Lake and close to the Swami Vivekananda Airport. The stadium is about 21 kilometers away from the main city of Raipur.
Building a World-Class Ground
Construction of the stadium started in 2006 and finished in 2008. It cost about 145 Crore Indian Rupees to build. The Government of Chhattisgarh owns and built this impressive stadium. It has all the modern features a sports arena needs. The areas for media and special corporate boxes have been updated. Roofs cover parts of the ground to keep fans comfortable, even on hot days.
The Pitch and Big Boundaries
The playing area, called the pitch, is usually fair for both batters and bowlers. It has hosted many exciting games, including IPL matches and the Road Safety World Series. Sometimes, the pitch helps fast bowlers, and other times it helps spin bowlers. It's a good, balanced pitch for all types of cricket.
This stadium is known for having one of the biggest playing fields in India. The field is about 180 yards long and 160 yards wide. The boundaries are usually around 80 meters long. This large size makes the game fair for both batters and bowlers. Some international commentators have even compared it to famous stadiums like The Gabba in Australia. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) once called its pitch and ground the "Best" in the Central Zone.
Exciting Matches and Events
First Games and Big Events
The first international standard cricket match here was a One-Day game. It was played on November 21, 2010, between the Canada national cricket team and the Chhattisgarh cricket team.
The stadium also hosted a "Half-Marathon" event in 2012. Many famous cricketers have visited and praised the stadium. For example, Sunil Gavaskar said it was one of the best in the country. Irfan Pathan noted that such great facilities help new cricketers develop.
The Road Safety World Series is a special cricket tournament. It was held here in 2021 and 2022. Many matches were played, following safety guidelines. In 2023, the stadium also hosted four matches for the Celebrity Cricket League. This league features famous actors playing cricket.
IPL and Champions League Fun
The stadium became a second home for the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting in 2013. The first IPL match here was on April 28, 2013, between Delhi Daredevils and Pune Warriors. Delhi won that game. Many other IPL matches have been played here since then, bringing thrilling cricket action to Raipur.
In 2014, the stadium also hosted eight Twenty20 matches for the Champions League Twenty20. This included qualifier games and group stage matches. It was a big success, with many tickets selling out.
What Famous Players Say
Many cricket legends have praised this stadium:
- Sunil Gavaskar called it one of the best stadiums in the country. He suggested it should be used for all kinds of matches.
- Irfan Pathan was amazed by the facilities. He said, "When opportunities are created, and such facilities are in place, there is the hope that cricketers will emerge."
- Viv Richards said, "We cannot even imagine that Chhattisgarh has such a big Cricket Stadium. This is one of the world's best Cricket Stadium."
- Yuvraj Singh described it as a "huge and magnificent Stadium." He believes it's a great chance for Chhattisgarh to help future players.
- Other famous cricketers like Kapil Dev, Ravi Shastri, and Anil Kumble have also admired the stadium's beauty and facilities.
Images for kids
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A drone view of the stadium
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Another drone view of the stadium
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The stadium during the Road Safety World Series
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The stadium during an IPL match
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The stadium during the 2014 Champions League Twenty20
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Entrance main building
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Interior and seat boxes
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Stadium view from VIP lobby
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During Road safety world series 2021 Final
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View from lower stand
