The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (SCA Stadium) in Rajkot is known for its balanced yet batting-friendly pitch, making it a favorite for high-scoring matches. Whether it’s a T20, ODI or Test the surface offers good bounce and pace early on helping fast bowlers, while spinners come into play as the game progresses. With dew playing a big role in night games toss decisions often influence match outcomes.
This 2025 pitch report breaks down everything average scores spin vs. pace dominance, weather impact and historical trends. From IPL thrillers to intense Test matches Rajkot’s pitch has seen it all with stats showing 160-180 is par in T20s, while ODIs often cross 300+ runs. The pitch also deteriorates in longer formats, giving spinners an advantage by Day 4-5 in Tests.
Want to know if batting first or chasing is better? Or how dew affects night matches? This guide covers all key insights, helping fans, players, and analysts understand Rajkot’s pitch like never before.
Key Highlights
✔ Batting-friendly pitch but offers early help for fast bowlers.
✔ T20 Avg. Score: 160-180 | ODI Avg. Score: 280-320.
✔ Spinners dominate middle overs, especially in ODIs & Tests.
✔ Dew in night matches makes chasing easier (65% win rate).
✔ Test pitch slows down, favoring spinners on Day 4-5.
✔ Toss matters—teams prefer fielding first in limited-overs games.
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pitch Report (2025): A Complete Guide
Cricket fans, players and analysts often seek detailed pitch reports to understand how the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium (SCA Stadium) in Rajkot behaves. Whether you’re checking conditions for an upcoming match or analyzing past performances this comprehensive 2025 pitch report covers everything from batting vs. bowling trends to weather impacts and historical stats.
Key Highlights
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Is the Rajkot pitch batting or bowling-friendly?
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How does the surface change across formats (T20, ODI, Test)?
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What role do spinners and fast bowlers play?
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How do weather and dew influence matches?
By the end, you’ll have a clear, data-backed understanding of the SCA Stadium’s pitch behavior, helping you predict match outcomes and player performances.
Overview of Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, also known as Rajkot Stadium or Khandheri Cricket Stadium, is one of India’s premier cricket venues. Located in Gujarat, it has hosted numerous IPL, international, and domestic matches, earning a reputation for high-scoring games.
With a seating capacity of 28,000, the stadium features a well-maintained outfield and balanced pitch conditions. It is home to the Saurashtra cricket team and has been a preferred venue for day-night limited-overs matches.
Key Highlights
✔ Established: 2008
✔ Capacity: 28,000
✔ Known For: Batting-friendly pitches, big boundaries
✔ Major Matches Hosted: IPL, India vs. England, India vs. Australia
✔ Nicknames: Rajkot Stadium, Khandheri Stadium
This stadium is a favorite among batsmen but offers something for bowlers who adapt quickly.
Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pitch Report (2025 Update)
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot continues to offer a balanced pitch that slightly favors batsmen while providing opportunities for both pacers and spinners. Known for its true bounce and fast outfield the surface typically produces high-scoring T20 (160-180 average) and ODI (280-320 average) matches though spinners gain traction as the game progresses.
In Test cricket, the pitch holds firm early before deteriorating, offering turn on Days 4-5. Dew in night matches makes chasing advantageous with teams winning 65% of T20s when fielding first.
Key Highlights
✔ Batting-Friendly: Consistent bounce, good for stroke play
✔ Bowling Impact: Pacers early, spinners middle-late overs
✔ T20 Avg. Score: 160-180 | ODI Avg. Score: 280-320
✔ Test Behavior: Slows down, spin-dominant by Day 4-5
✔ Dew Factor: 65% chase win rate in night games
✔ Toss Strategy: Field first in limited-overs matches
A. General Pitch Behavior: Batting or Bowling-Friendly?
The Rajkot pitch has traditionally been good for batting, with consistent bounce and minimal early movement. However, in recent years, curators have introduced more grass cover, helping fast bowlers in the first few overs.
Spinners come into play as the game progresses, especially in Test matches and ODIs, where the surface slows down. The average T20 score here is 160-180, while ODIs often see 280-320 as a competitive total.
Key Highlights
✔ Batting Paradise: True bounce, fast outfield
✔ Bowling Challenge: Pacers get early swing, spinners dominate middle overs
✔ Pitch Deterioration: Slows down after 20-25 overs
✔ Toss Impact: 60% of teams prefer chasing (due to dew)
✔ Highest T20 Score: 202 (RCB vs. GL, IPL 2016)
While batsmen enjoy the conditions, smart bowlers can exploit variations as the match progresses.
Pitch Report by Format (T20, ODI, Test)
1. T20 Pitch Report
The SCA Stadium T20 pitch favors aggressive batting, with shorter boundaries square of the wicket. However, spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal have found success by varying pace.
Dew plays a big role in night matches, making it harder for bowlers to grip the ball. Teams winning the toss usually opt to chase, with a 65% win rate for teams batting second.
T20 Stats at Rajkot:
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Avg. 1st Innings | 165 |
| Highest Chase | 202 (GL vs. RCB, 2016) |
| Best Bowling | 5/14 (Andrew Tye) |
| Best Batting | 109* (Chris Gayle) |
| Win % Batting 1st | 35% |
*T20 matches here are high-scoring, but spinners and death bowlers can turn the game.*
2. ODI Pitch Report
The Rajkot ODI pitch is flat and full of runs, with an average 1st innings score of 290-310. Fast bowlers get early movement, while spinners control the middle overs.
Dew in night games makes chasing easier, and teams batting second win 60% of matches. Big hundreds are common, with Rohit Sharma scoring a double-century here in 2017.
Key Highlights
✔ Powerplay: Pacers take 2-3 wickets
✔ Middle Overs: Spinners rule (economy ~5.0)
✔ Death Overs: High scoring (10+ RPO)
✔ Highest Total: 414/4 (SA vs. Ire, 2025)
✔ Best Bowler: Kuldeep Yadav (4/45)
ODIs at Rajkot are a battle between batsmen’s aggression and spinners’ guile.
3. Test Match Pitch Report
The Rajkot Test pitch starts good for batting but deteriorates by Day 4-5, aiding spinners. Fast bowlers get bounce early, but reverse swing becomes crucial later.
In the 2024 India vs. England Test, the pitch turned sharply on Day 5, helping Ravichandran Ashwin take a 5-wicket haul. The average 1st innings score is 350-400.
Test Pitch Behavior:
| Day | Pitch Condition | Key Performer |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1-2 | Batting-friendly, even bounce | Openers/Batsmen |
| Day 3 | Slight wear, spin introduced | All-rounders |
| Day 4-5 | Big turn, uneven bounce | Spinners |
Test matches here are won by teams that capitalize on the first three days.
Spin vs. Pace: Who Dominates at Rajkot?
The Rajkot pitch offers a balanced contest between spin and pace. While fast bowlers enjoy the new ball, spinners take over as the game progresses.
Fast Bowlers:
✔ Swing early (first 5-7 overs in T20/ODI)
✔ Bounce remains consistent in Tests
✔ Best Performers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami
Spinners:
✔ Middle overs control (ODI/T20)
✔ Day 4-5 dominance (Tests)
✔ Best Performers: Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin
Weather & Pitch Impact (Dew, Heat, Humidity)
Rajkot’s hot and dry climate affects pitch behavior:
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Day Matches: Hard surface, good for batting
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Night Matches: Dew makes chasing easier
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Humidity: Aids swing early on
Dew Factor in T20s/ODIs:
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70% of night games won by chasing team
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Spinners struggle with wet ball
Teams winning the toss often field first in limited-overs games.
Key Takeaways
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium pitch is batting-friendly but rewards smart bowling. Key trends:
✔ T20: High scores, dew favors chasers
✔ ODI: Flat pitch, spinners control middle overs
✔ Test: Deteriorates, spin dominates late
✔ Toss: Crucial in limited-overs matches
For live updates, bookmark this guide before the next Rajkot match!
FAQs
1. Is Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium pitch batting or bowling-friendly?
The pitch is batting-friendly but offers early assistance to fast bowlers. Spinners dominate the middle overs, especially in ODIs and Tests.
2. What’s the average T20 score at Rajkot Stadium?
The average first-innings score in T20s is 160-180, with dew making chasing easier in night games.
3. Does the Rajkot pitch favor spin or pace?
Pacers excel early, while spinners control the middle and death overs. In Tests, spin dominates from Day 4 onwards.
4. How does dew affect matches at SCA Stadium?
Dew makes the ball slippery at night, giving chasing teams a 65% win rate in T20s/ODIs.
5. What’s the best toss decision at Rajkot?
Teams usually field first in limited-overs matches due to dew, while Tests favor batting first.
6. What’s the highest score at this stadium?
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T20: 202/2 (GL vs. RCB, IPL 2016)
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ODI: 414/4 (SA vs. Ire, 2025)
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Test: 649/9d (India vs. England, 2024)
7. How does the pitch behave in Test matches?
It’s flat for 3 days, then deteriorates, aiding spinners on Days 4-5.
Conclusion
The Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium pitch remains one of the most balanced surfaces in India, offering something for batsmen, fast bowlers, and spinners. While it favors high-scoring games in T20s and ODIs, the pitch gradually slows down, making spin crucial in Tests. Dew in night matches and the toss play pivotal roles, with chasing teams holding a 65% win rate in limited-overs cricket. Whether you’re a fan analyzing match conditions or a player strategizing for a game, this 2025 pitch report equips you with the latest insights to understand Rajkot’s pitch behavior.
