Cuttack Barabati Stadium: Records to controversies, know its history ahead of India-England ODI

As India and England prepare to clash in a high-stake One-Day International (ODI) match at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on February 9, the spotlight turns to one of India’s earliest and most storied cricket venues, hosting the third-ever ODI in the country.

Nestled on the banks of the Mahanadi River, the venue has witnessed historic triumphs and unforgettable cricketing drama since its inception. With a capacity of 45,000, and named after the historic Barabati Fort, here is the story of the Barabati Stadium:

Establishment of Cuttack Barabati Stadium:

Built-in 1958 as a multi-purpose complex, Barabati Stadium initially hosted football matches, athletics, and cultural events. Cricket gradually took centre stage after the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) upgraded facilities in the late 1970s to meet international requirements.

The Barabati Stadium hosted its first ODI in January 1982, where India defeated England by five wickets, clinching the series 2–1. Notably, that match made the stadium the third-only stadium in India to ever host an ODI.

Meanwhile, the first Test match at the Cuttack Barabati Stadium took place from January 4 to 7, 1987, between India and Sri Lanka and the first T20 International (T20I) match here took place on December 22, 2017, again between India and Sri Lanka.

Barabati Stadium Features:

• Capacity: 45,000 spectators.
• Floodlights: Equipped for day-night matches.
• Ends: Mahanadi River End and Pavilion End.
• Domestic Cricket: Home ground for the Odisha cricket team and host for various domestic tournaments.

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International Records at Barabati Stadium

ODI Records at Barabati Stadium:

• Total Matches: Barabati Stadium has hosted 19 One Day International (ODI) matches.
• Highest Team Score: 381/6 by India against England on January 19, 2017.
• Highest Individual Score: Mohammad Azharuddin's unbeaten 153 against Zimbabwe.
• Total ODI Centuries: The stadium has witnessed 12 ODI centuries.
• Highest Individual Score in 2017: Yuvraj Singh's 150 against England.
• Best Bowling Figures: Daren Powell’s 4/27 against India.
• Team Performance: India has won 11 out of 15 ODIs played here.

Test Match History

• First Test Match: Held in January 1987 between India and Sri Lanka, with India winning by an innings and 67 runs.
• Highest Individual Test Score: Dilip Vengsarkar's 166 runs.
• Best Bowling Figures: Narendra Hirwani’s 6/59 against New Zealand.
• Notable Achievement: Kapil Dev claimed his 300th Test wicket during the first Test match here, dismissing Rumesh Ratnayake of Sri Lanka.

T20 and IPL Performances

• T20 Internationals: The stadium has hosted two T20I matches.
• Highest T20I Team Score: The highest T20I team score at Cuttack Barabati Stadium is 180/3, achieved by India against Sri Lanka on December 22, 2017.

IPL Matches at Barabati Stadium

Seven IPL matches have been played at Barabati Stadium. Here are the statistics:

• Highest and Lowest IPL Score: The highest IPL score at Cuttack Barabati Stadium is 231 runs, achieved by the Sunrisers Hyderabad against the Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 7, 2014. Coincidentally, the lowest IPL score of 126 runs was also scored during the same match by RCB.
• Total Runs in IPL Matches: 2,278 runs with an average of 325.42 runs per match.
• Winning Team Trends: Teams batting first have won 4 out of 7 IPL matches.
• Boundary Count: 283 boundaries, including 68 sixes and 215 fours.

Notable Events and Records at Barabati Stadium:

#HappyBirthdayMSDhoni
This picture is from the Ind vs Eng ODI match at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, where Dhoni played a crucial and excellent innings of 134 in 122 balls, guiding India to victory.#Odisha pic.twitter.com/b2hMaCexCJ

— The Odisha Index (@OdishaIndex24x7) July 6, 2024

• Highest 4th Wicket Partnership in ODIs: Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja’s unbroken 275-run stand against Zimbabwe.
• Notable Batsmen: Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs (469) in ODIs at this ground.
• Top Wicket-takers in ODIs: Anil Kumble, Ishant Sharma, and Ajit Agarkar, with 7 wickets each.
• Mohammad Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja's unbroken 275-run partnership against Zimbabwe is the world record for the highest 4th wicket partnership and the highest unbroken partnership in ODI cricket.
• On January 19, 2017, Yuvraj Singh scored 150 runs off 127 balls and Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 134 runs off 122 balls- the Captain Cool’s and Yuvi's last century at Cuttack.

Controversies and Challenges

While Barabati has celebrated cricketing excellence, it has also faced moments of controversy. 

October 2015: Bottle-Throwing Halts Play: A T20I between India and South Africa was suspended for 30 minutes after fans hurled water bottles onto the field, protesting a sluggish Indian batting performance. The incident led to stricter security protocols and a temporary ban on hosting international matches until 2017.

Looking Ahead: India vs. England ODI on February 9, 2025

The upcoming India-England ODI on February 9, 2025, at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, will be the first ODI to be played here since 2019. Immense preparations are underway to make the event a grand success with a chessboard field pattern and a high-scoring pitch.

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Online ticket sales for the match began at 4 pm yesterday and offline sales will be held on February 5 and 6 at the counters designated by the OCA.