R. Premadasa Stadium: The R Premadasa Stadium, known as “the home of Sri Lankan cricket,” is a cricket ground on Khettarama Road in the Maligawatta suburb of Colombo. The R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium was the brainchild of the late Lankan former president Ranasinghe Premadasa; therefore, it is named after him. Opened on February 2, 1986, this colossal cricket ground is the biggest cricket stadium in Sri Lanka, with a capacity of more than 35,000. The R Premadasa Stadium was formerly known as the Khettarama Cricket Stadium until 1994.
Having hosted more than 100 ODI matches, this venue is the marquee cricket stadium in Sri Lanka, known for hosting important cricket matches such as the 2002 Champions Trophy Final, the 2011 World Cup Semi-Final, and the 2012 T20 World Cup Final. The R Premadasa Stadium is also known for Sri Lanka’s 952 runs, a world record for the highest total in international cricket. The first intentional cricket match hosted by R Premadasa Stadium was a one-day international between Sri Lanka and New Zealand on April 5, 1986. Since then, this stadium has hosted 206 international cricket matches.
An Overview of the R. Premadasa Stadium
| Venue Name | R. Premadasa Stadium |
| Also Known as | Khettarama Stadium (until June 1994) |
| Opened | 1986 |
| Location | Khettarama Temple Rd, Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka |
| Seating Capacity | 35,000 |
| Pitch Behaviour | Spin-friendly wicket with some assistance for batters |
| Shortest Boundary Distance | 68 meters |
| Longest Boundary Distance | 75 meters |
| Bowling Ends | Khettarama End, Maligawatte End |
| Floodlights | Yes |
R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report & Pitch Behavior
Traditionally, the pitch at R Premadasa Stadium has favored spin bowlers. It provides great assistance to slow bowlers as the game progresses, making it tough for batters to navigate, particularly in the later stages of matches. The surface frequently deteriorates during the game, resulting in unpredictable bounces and spins that pose a severe test of skill for batsmen. With visible spots on the track, batting becomes considerably more difficult because you don’t know how the ball will react after it hits the crack. In shorter formats, the bounce is similar on both sides, but in longer formats, the pitch plays tricks.
Read More: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report || HPCA Stadium Pitch Report
R. Premadasa Stadium Weather
The climate of Colombo is tropical rainforest (Af). The weather in R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, is scorching all year round. The average high temperature from March to April is approximately 31 °C (87.8 °F). The monsoon seasons, which run from April to June and September to November and bring severe rains, are the only times when the weather in Colombo changes. Although this is more pronounced in the drier winter months when the lowest temperatures average 22 °C (71.6 °F), Colombo experiences little variation in temperature during the day. The city receives about 2,500 millimeters (98 in) of rain on average annually.
R. Premadasa Stadium Photos
R. Premadasa Stadium Records & Stats
There have been more than 200 international cricket matches played at the R Premadasa Stadium thus far. The highest score ever achieved on this field in a Test match between Sri Lanka and India is 952/6 dec; the lowest total ever at this venue was 50/10 made by Sri Lanka in an ODI match between India and Sri Lanka.
| Total Matches | 206 |
| Average 1st inning score | 327 in Tests, 225 in ODIs, 151 in T20Is |
| Highest total recorded | 952/6 dec by Sri Lanka vs India in Tests, 375/5 by India vs Sri Lanka in ODIs, 215/5 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in T20Is |
| Lowest total recorded | 86 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in Tests, 50 by Sri Lanka vs India in ODIs, 80 by Afghanistan/Sri Lanka vs England in T20Is |
| Highest score chased | 391/6 by Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in Tests, 292/4 by Sri Lanka vs Australia in ODIs, 215/5 by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka in T20Is |
| Highest individual score | 340 by Sanath Jayasuriya for Sri Lanka vs India in Tests, 169 by Kumar Sangakkara for Sri Lanka vs South Africa in ODIs, 99* by Luke Wright for England vs Afghanistan in T20Is |
| Best bowling performance | 7/89 by Rangana Herath for Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh in Tests, 7/19 by Wanindu Hasaranga for Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe in ODIs, 4/9 by Wanindu Hasaranga for Sri Lanka vs India in T20Is |
Also Read: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Records || Grand Prairie Cricket Stadiu Records
Sri Lanka Record at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
At R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka has participated in 167 international games across all formats, winning 90 and losing 65. There have been four draws and eight results that remain undetermined.
| Played | 167 |
| Won | 90 |
| Lost | 65 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 4 |
| No Result | 8 |
Sri Lanka Test Record at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sri Lanka has played nine test matches at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, winning four of them, losing just one, and drawing four.
| Played | 9 |
| Won | 4 |
| Lost | 1 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 4 |
| No Result | 0 |
Sri Lanka ODI Record at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
At Colombo Cricket Stadium (RPS), Sri Lanka has participated in 127 one-day international matches. They have won seventy-eight of those, lost forty-one, and eight matches ended with an undetermined result.
| Played | 127 |
| Won | 78 |
| Lost | 41 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 8 |
Sri Lanka T20I Record at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Out of the 31 Twenty20 internationals played in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka has won eight and lost twenty-three.
| Played | 31 |
| Won | 8 |
| Lost | 23 |
| Tied | 0 |
| Draw | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
Premadasa Stadium Capacity
There are more than 35,000 seats available in the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Premadasa Stadium Boundary Length
The boundaries at R. Premadasa Stadium have a length range of 68 to 75 meters, with the shortest boundary measuring 68 meters and the longest measuring 75 meters.
Premadasa Stadium Location
The R. Premadasa Stadium is located at Khettarama Temple Rd., Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka.
FAQs
1. Is R Premadasa Stadium a batting or bowling pitch?
The R Premadasa Stadium offers enough assistance for spin bowlers, but skilled batsman can score big runs here.
2. Where is R. Premadasa Stadium?
The R. Premadasa Stadium is situated at Khettarama Temple Rd., Colombo 01000, Sri Lanka.
3. What is the boundary length at the R. Premadasa Stadium?
The length of the boundaries of R. Premadasa Stadium ranges from 68 to 75 meters, with 68 meters being the smallest and 75 meters being the longest.
5. What type of pitch is R. Premadasa Stadium?
The pitch at Premadasa Stadium is spin-friendly, which also helps batters to some extent.
6. What is the capacity of R. Premadasa Stadium?
There are more than 35,000 seats available in the R. Premadasa Stadium.
7. Colombo Cricket Stadium (RPS) is located in which country?
The home of Sri Lankan cricket, Ranasinghe Premadasa Stadium, is located in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
