Previously known as Khettarama Stadium, R.Premadasa Stadium is located on the Khettarama Road in the beautiful Maligawatta suburb of Colombo in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1986 and named after late Sri Lanka President Ranasinghe Premadasa.
It is often addressed as the “Home of the Sri Lankan Cricket.” This stadium went through a heavy renovation, which extended its seating capacity up to 40,000, including a media Box for journalists up to 200 and other accommodations. A huge spectator seating capacity makes it the largest Stadium in the County.
Mostly, It is known for the highest Test score ever recorded in the match between India and Sri Lanka in 1997. The Sri Lankan Team posted 952 for 6, whereas Team India bagged 537 for 8. Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya scored 340 runs in 578 balls. Let’s take a closer look at the pitch behavior at R. Premadasa Stadium.
Overview of R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
| Location | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Previous name | Khettarama Stadium(Until June 1994) |
| Opened | 1986 |
| End Names | Khettarama End, Maligawatte End |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 60 meter |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 80 meter |
| Flood Lights | Yes |
| Pitch | Grass |
R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling?
Due to the tropical environment and dry surface R. Premadasa Stadium also favors the batters. High-scoring matches have been witnessed here in the past as the stadium offers a balanced pitch. However, bowlers who are experts in bowling with new balls, especially fast bowlers, can take advantage of the pitch in the early spells. The new ball swings due to the patches of grass on the pitch. As the match settles down, the pace slows down, and spinners can take advantage. The response to spinners is not easy, as batsmen’s hopes are ruined against them if there is no strategic adjustment. Without relentless practice in batting against spinners, the batters can fail and feel trapped.
The pitch contains grass, which invites both bowlers and batters to play a close contest. Only cautious batting can be successful, for which an extra amount of time is required to settle on the crease. It is not good to start playing powerful shots from the start of the inning. Once the fielding team has dominated the batting team with an early fall of wickets, ruling over the opponent will be easy. After winning the toss, it is recommended to pick up batting first, as there is even bounce while the new ball generates enough pace on the fresh pitch.
R.Premadasa Stadium ODI Records: ODIs and T20Is
R.Premadasa Stadium has witnessed more than 150 One Day International games. To this date, a total of 178 games have been played on the very pitch. The team batted the first 98, and in 68 games, the team bowling came out as the winner. Only 12 matches went without any result. The average first-inning score in the ODI has recorded 225-233 for the R. Premadasa stadium.
R. Premadasa Stadium T20 Records and Stats
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 66 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 28 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 37 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 145 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 129 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 215/5 (19.4 overs) – BAN vs SL |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 80/10 (17.2 overs) – AFG vs ENG |
| Highest Score Chased | 215/5 (19.4 overs) – BAN vs SL |
| Lowest Score Defended | 115/6 (20 overs) – RSA vs SL |
R. Premadasa Stadium ODI Records and Stats
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 187 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 104 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 71 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 231 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 189 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 375/5 (50 overs) – IND vs SL |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 50/10 (15.2 overs) – SL vs IND |
| Highest Score Chased | 292/4 (48.3 overs) – SL vs AUS |
| Lowest Score Defended | 170/10 (49.2 overs) – WIW vs SLW |
R. Premadasa Stadium Test Records and Stats
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 8 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 2 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 3 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 319 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 385 |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 288 |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 246 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 952/6 (271 overs) – SL vs IND |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 86/10 (27.4 overs) – BAN vs SL |
| Highest Score Chased | 391/6 (114.5 overs) – SL vs ZIM |
| Lowest Score Defended | 297/10 (131.5 overs) – SL vs NZ |
R.Premadasa Stadium Pitch Weather Report
| Location | Weather | Temperature | Humidity | Probability of Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R.Premadasa Stadium | Mostly Cloudy | 29-24°C | 52% | Cloudy |
A cloudy sky will be visible in Colombo for the next few days with moderate chances of rainfall. The temperature is expected to rise up to 29 degrees Celsius and can fall to as low as 24 degrees Celsius. The clouds can cover the sky, with the possibility of interruption due to rain. The air movement will reflect the speed varying from and in the range of 11 km/h. As per the weather forecast, playing a match in these conditions is uncertain.
FAQs
Q.1 Is R. Premadasa Stadium a batting or bowling pitch?
Ans. Skillful and defensive batting works out at R. Premadasa Stadium,m offering a pitch where high-scoring games are probable. However, if a bowler is good with pace, having a new ball, the swing factor comes into effect. As the ball is old, it might not be easy for batters to survive against spinners.
Q.2 How many seats are in R. Premadasa Stadium?
Ans. The capacity of the R. Premada Stadium is 35,00,0, which can be extended up to 40,000 for the spectators.
Q.3 How many ODI International Cricket games were hosted by the R. Premadasa Stadium?
Ans. To this date, 178 ODIs have been played at R.Premadasa Stadium. The average score for the first inning is recorded as 231, and the second inning is noted to be up to 190 runs. The first batting team won 98 times, while the first fielding team scripted victory in 68 matches.
Q. 4 Where is R. Premadasa Stadium located?
Ans. The R.Premadasa Stadium is located on the Khettarama Road in the beautiful Maligawatta suburb of Colombo in Sri Lanka. Due to its location, the stadium was previously known as Khettarama Stadium until June 1994.
