The Sawai Mansingh Stadium (Hindi: सवाई मानसिंह स्तादियम) is a cricket stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. It was built during the reign of Maharaja Sawai Man Singh II who was also known as SMS, hence the name of the SMS Stadium. It is situated at one corner of the Rambagh Circle. The stadium seats 30,000 and is one of the best in India, after the 2006 renovation.
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted a solitary Test match, between India and Pakistan, starting on 21 February 1987, when Pakistan President General Zia-ul-Haq crossed the border to watch the second day's play as part of his "Cricket for Peace" initiative. The Test was notable for Younis Ahmed's return to the Test fray after an absence of over 17 years and also for Sunil Gavaskar's dismissal to the first ball of the Test match, for the third time in an otherwise illustrious career. The game sputtered to a draw after the third day's play was abandoned following heavy rain and a controversy over the alleged deposition of sawdust on the wicket which Pakistan objected to.
The stadium's ODI debut had kicked off with a contest between the same two sides on 2 October 1983. Fresh from their World Cup triumph, the Indians comfortably won by four wickets, sporting the same XI that won the World Cup final. The ground has also hosted two World Cup matches in 1987 and 1996 respectively, the West Indians losing to England in the former and beating Australia in the latter. The last ODI played on the ground is between India and v New Zealand on December 2010.
The highest individual score by any batsman on this ground in ODIs is 183 (not out) by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Test Matches The first ODI, played at Sawai Mansingh stadium, kicked off with a contest between India and Pakistan in 1983, in which, India won by four wickets. The 1987 Test between India and PakiὂὂἏstan proved to be an instrument of peace, when Pakistan President General Zia-ul-Haq came over to witness the second day's play as part of his "Cricket for Peace" initiative. The game, which saw Sunil Gavaskar being dismissed to the first ball of a Test match for the third time in his career, ended in a draw amid a controversy over the alleged deposition of sawdust on the wicket that Pakistan objected.
Records: The highest ODI total at this ground is 303-4 by India against Sri Lanka in 2005-06. The lowest ODI total at this ground is 135 by India against Pakistan. The highest individual score by any batsman on this ground in ODI is 183 not out by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur is situated in the picturesque state of Rajasthan, India. Though the stadium has hosted only one Test, it has hosted a number of ODIs. This is also the ground where Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, most successful opening pair for India in ODIs, opened the innings for the first time.
Has played IPL Matached at SMS Ground, Rajasthan Royals its local Team, and won First IPL.
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