Arun Jaitley Stadium (Feroz Shah Kotla): History and Pitch

Arun Jaitley Stadium is the main international cricket ground in Delhi. For most of its history it was known as the Feroz Shah Kotla, named after the nearby fortress built by the fourteenth-century ruler Feroz Shah Tughlaq. In 2019 it was renamed in honour of Arun Jaitley, a former president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association who later became a national politician.

History

Cricket has been played at the site since 1883. Its first Test was in 1948, when India played West Indies, and it has remained a regular Test venue ever since. The ground is run by the Delhi and District Cricket Association and is home to Delhi in domestic cricket and the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League. The capacity is about 35,000.

Pitch and conditions

The surface at Delhi has traditionally been on the slower side, with low bounce and turn for spinners, which can make strokeplay difficult early in an innings. In recent years the pitch has varied in character, and groundsmen have produced both slow surfaces and truer tracks for limited-overs matches. The winter months bring cool conditions and, at times, fog and heavy air pollution, which have occasionally affected play.

Memorable moments

In February 1999 Anil Kumble took all ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan, only the second bowler in Test history to do so, finishing with figures of 10 for 74 as India won the match by 212 runs. During the 2023 men’s World Cup the ground saw Afghanistan beat England and Australia’s Glenn Maxwell score the fastest World Cup century, off 40 balls, against the Netherlands.

The ground today

The stadium has been upgraded several times, including improvements to its stands and floodlights, and it is now a regular host for Tests, one-day internationals and T20 matches. Its blend of history and its role as the home of the Delhi Capitals keep it prominent on the Indian calendar.