Caption for photograph number one

From a marvellous structure, to a lush-green outfield, to sporting pitches, and fantastic facilities for players, media and spectators, the stadium – the brainchild of the current BCCI President Shashank Manohar - has everything that can be asked of a world-class sporting venue. Situated about 20 kilometres from the city centre almost in the middle of nowhere.

Caption for photograph number one

FacilitiesThe stadium has colourful bucket seats and facilities for spectators, a huge media enclosure, massive dressing rooms, with separate enclosures for the gymnasium, medical facilities and dining, apart from a spacious lounge area outside the dressing room for the players to keep a watch on the proceedings. There’s also a spacious club-house within the stadium complex itself, which can house up to three full cricket teams. The club-house also offers everything one expects from a world-class facility; two restaurants, a modern gymnasium, an Olympic-standard swimming pool, and recreation facilities - there’s everything that one can ask for.

Caption for photograph number one

Built over 35 acres of land, the stadium has been constructed by Shapoorji Pallonji & Co, who constructed the Brabourne Stadium several decades ago, at a cost of Rs 75 crores. It first hosted its first international match when Australia visited India in 2008 and played the final Test of the tour here. The Vidarbha Cricket Association subsequently installed floodlights in the stadium, and it hosted a day and night one-day international for the first time when Australia visited India for a one-day series in 2009-10.