Greenfield Stadium History: Kerala is famous for its love of football, just like West Bengal. But football isn’t the only sport here; cricket is also very popular. Kerala has produced cricketers like Sanju Samson and Sachin Baby, who play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and for the national team. The state has good sports facilities, and athletes from Kerala have won medals in athletics and volleyball as well.
Greenfield International Stadium
One of the main sports venues in Kerala is the Greenfield International Stadium in Trivandrum. Also known as The Sports Hub, it was once called the Trivandrum International Stadium. It is a multi-purpose stadium for both cricket and football. Notably, it’s the first fully eco-friendly stadium in India and has a rainwater harvesting facility. The stadium is close to Trivandrum International Airport (13.3 km), Kochuveli Railway Station (10.2 km), Trivandrum Central Railway Station, and the Central Bus Station (14.4 km).
History
The Greenfield International Stadium was built on 36 acres of land leased by Kerala University for Rs 94 lakh per year for 15 years. Announced in 2012 and completed in 2015, it officially opened on January 26, 2015. The playing area meets FIFA and ICC standards and has indoor sports facilities for table tennis, basketball, badminton, a gym, and a spa. The first international football tournament held here was the 2015 SAFF Championship, where India won against Afghanistan 2–1. The stadium hosted its first cricket one-day match on November 1, 2018, and is the home ground for the Kerala Cricket Association.
Kerala Cricket Association
The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) governs cricket in Kerala and is affiliated with the BCCI. The Kerala Cricket Team, previously known as the Travancore-Cochin cricket team until 1957/58, started competing in the Ranji Trophy in 1957-58 but has not won any titles yet. They have never won the Syed Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy either. However, their best season in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was in 2012–13, finishing third.
Kerala has produced two Test players, Tinu Yohannan, and S. Sreesanth. Sanju Samson has played for India in T20Is and ODIs, and Basil Thampi has been called up to the national team. Former ODI and T20I player Robin Uthappa also rose through Kerala’s ranks, and former India international Sadagoppan Ramesh played for the team from 2005 to 2007.
On May 27, 2016, the KCA signed a lease agreement with Kariyavattom Sports Facilities Limited (KSFL) for the Greenfield Stadium until November 18, 2027. The KCA can use the stadium for 180 days each year and for cricket matches on other days if it’s available.
Stadium Capacity and Facilities
The Greenfield Stadium can seat 50,000 people, making it one of the largest cricket stadiums in India. The largest is the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, followed by Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The stadium has four zones: the south zone with shopping malls and a food court, the north zone for cricket, and the east zone for football. Each zone has a players’ lounge, gym, media center, and storage area. Nearby, the Pavilion offers squash, volleyball, basketball, and table tennis facilities, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.
Stadium Dimensions and Records
The square boundaries at Greenfield Stadium are about 65 meters, and the straight boundaries are around 70 meters. According to ICC regulations, the total playing area should be at least 137.16 meters from one square boundary to the other, with the shortest square boundary no less than 59.43 meters, and the straight boundaries at either end at least 64 meters.
Records
Greenfield International Stadium has hosted only a few matches. In ODIs, the highest total was 390/5 by India against Sri Lanka, and the lowest was 73 all out by Sri Lanka against India. The highest successful chase was 105/1 by India against the West Indies. In T20s, the highest total recorded is 235/4 by India against Australia, and the highest chase is 173/2 by the West Indies against India. India’s lowest defended score is 67/5 in a rain-affected game against New Zealand.
| Format | Stat | Record |
|---|---|---|
| ODI | Total Matches | 2 |
| Matches won batting first | 1 | |
| Matches won bowling first | 1 | |
| Average 1st innings score | 247 | |
| Average 2nd innings score | 89 | |
| Highest total recorded | 390/5 (50 overs) by India vs Sri Lanka | |
| Lowest total recorded | 73 all out (22 overs) by Sri Lanka vs India | |
| Highest score chased | 105/1 (14.5 overs) by India vs West Indies | |
| Lowest score defended | 390/5 (50 overs) by India vs Sri Lanka | |
| T20 | Total Matches | 4 |
| Matches won batting first | 2 | |
| Matches won bowling first | 2 | |
| Average 1st innings score | 144 | |
| Average 2nd innings score | 133 | |
| Highest total recorded | 235/4 (20 overs) by India vs Australia | |
| Lowest total recorded | 0/0 (0 overs) | |
| Highest score chased | 173/2 (18.3 overs) by West Indies vs India | |
| Lowest score defended | 67/5 (8 overs) by India vs New Zealand |
FAQ’s About Greenfield Stadium:
Q) What is the seating capacity of Greenfield International Stadium?
Ans: The Greenfield International Stadium in Kerala can seat up to 50,000 spectators, making it one of the largest cricket stadiums in India.
Q) When was the first ODI played at Greenfield Stadium?
Ans: The stadium hosted its first One Day International (ODI) cricket match on November 1, 2018.
Q) What are the boundary lengths at Greenfield International Stadium?
Ans: The square boundaries are around 65 meters, while the straight boundaries are about 70 meters.
Q) What is the highest ODI total at Greenfield Stadium?
Ans: The highest ODI score at the stadium is 390/5, made by India against Sri Lanka.
Q) What other sports facilities does the Greenfield Stadium offer?
Ans: Besides cricket and football, the stadium has indoor facilities for table tennis, basketball, badminton, a gym, and a spa.
