Sawai Mansingh Stadium

Sawai Mansingh Stadium
सवाई मानसिंह स्टेडियम

Sawai Mansingh Stadium
Ground information
Location	Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Establishment	1969
Capacity	23,185
Owner	Rajasthan State Sports Council
Operator	Rajasthan Cricket Association
Tenants	Indian Cricket Team Rajasthan cricket team Rajasthan Royals Jaipur Pink Panthers
End names
Van Vihar Colony End Garh Ganesh Temple End
International information
First Test	21 February 1987:  India v  Pakistan
First ODI	2 October 1983:  India v  Pakistan
Last ODI	16 October 2013:  India v  Australia
As of 21 June 2014 Source: Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Cricinfo

The Sawai Mansingh Stadium 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 23,185. As of July 2013, the stadium and grounds could be toured using Google Street View.

The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted a solitary Test match, between India and Pakistan, starting in 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 Australia on October 2013 which they won comfortably by just losing one wicket chasing 362 in just 43.3 overs although it was a disgustingly flat wicket which provided nothing for the bowlers in the slightest.