Like city, like ground
The Feroz Shah Kotla won't win prizes for most picturesque stadium
02-Nov-2010
The Feroz Shah Kotla is not a particularly picturesque ground • Getty Images
Much like the city itself, Delhi's cricket has always been marked by politicking. It's proof that cricket doesn't exist in a vacuum. Individuals have performed almost despite the system, and off-field controversies and wheeling and dealing have come to mark the city's cricket administration.
There's also the famed rivalry against Mumbai, somewhat like the War of the Roses between Yorkshire and Lancashire.
The venue
Feroz Shah Kotla was never a beautiful venue, and has always sat in contrast to the beautiful, historic monuments around it. What hurts is that the so-called efforts at modernising the stadium have resulted in an uglier venue.
Feroz Shah Kotla was never a beautiful venue, and has always sat in contrast to the beautiful, historic monuments around it. What hurts is that the so-called efforts at modernising the stadium have resulted in an uglier venue.
The ground was built in 1883 by Englishmen who wanted a place to play and built the Willingdon Pavilion in what became the Kotla. The ground was named after the emperor Feroz Shah Tughlaq, who ruled the city in the 14th century. It hosted its first Test, the first in post-independence India, against West Indies in 1948, and its first ODI in 1982, when India played Sri Lanka.
Great matches
India v Sri Lanka, World Cup, March 1996
It showcased Sri Lanka's, and in particular Sanath Jayasuriya's, form in that tournament. Jayasuriya almost hounded Manoj Prabhakar into retirement with a a violent assault . Prabhakar went for 33 in his first two overs and later returned to bowl offspin but was looted for more runs as Sri Lanka reached the target with more than an over to spare. Jayasuriya made 79 with nine fours and two sixes.
India v Sri Lanka, World Cup, March 1996
It showcased Sri Lanka's, and in particular Sanath Jayasuriya's, form in that tournament. Jayasuriya almost hounded Manoj Prabhakar into retirement with a a violent assault . Prabhakar went for 33 in his first two overs and later returned to bowl offspin but was looted for more runs as Sri Lanka reached the target with more than an over to spare. Jayasuriya made 79 with nine fours and two sixes.
India v England, January 2002
Ashley Giles' game. He had leaked 32 runs from his first four overs but returned to turn the match on its head. India were 204 for 3, chasing 272, when Giles lured Sourav Ganguly into giving a catch. That triggered a collapse. His second spell read 5 for 9 in 20 deliveries, and India fell two short. They went into Darren Gough's final over needing eight, which became four off the last ball; it was Giles who pulled a diving boundary save to thwart India.
Ashley Giles' game. He had leaked 32 runs from his first four overs but returned to turn the match on its head. India were 204 for 3, chasing 272, when Giles lured Sourav Ganguly into giving a catch. That triggered a collapse. His second spell read 5 for 9 in 20 deliveries, and India fell two short. They went into Darren Gough's final over needing eight, which became four off the last ball; it was Giles who pulled a diving boundary save to thwart India.
India v Pakistan, April 2005
Pakistan sealed the series 4-2 after an amazing comeback from 0-2 down. In front of their president, Pervez Musharraf, and the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, almost every batsman contributed. Then, after Naved-ul-Hasan dismissed Virender Sehwag, Pakistan's bowlers and fielders did the rest on a newly laid pitch that crumbled alarmingly. There was a 20-minute interruption when at 94 for 6 disgruntled spectators threw bottles on to the field.
Pakistan sealed the series 4-2 after an amazing comeback from 0-2 down. In front of their president, Pervez Musharraf, and the Indian prime minister, Manmohan Singh, almost every batsman contributed. Then, after Naved-ul-Hasan dismissed Virender Sehwag, Pakistan's bowlers and fielders did the rest on a newly laid pitch that crumbled alarmingly. There was a 20-minute interruption when at 94 for 6 disgruntled spectators threw bottles on to the field.
Top performers in ODIs
Most runs Sachin Tendulkar, 300 runs at 37.5 | Top score Ricky Ponting, 145 v Zimbabwe
Most wickets Ajit Agarkar, 7 wickets at 24.57 | Best bowling Kemar Roach, 6 for 27 v Netherlands
Most runs Sachin Tendulkar, 300 runs at 37.5 | Top score Ricky Ponting, 145 v Zimbabwe
Most wickets Ajit Agarkar, 7 wickets at 24.57 | Best bowling Kemar Roach, 6 for 27 v Netherlands
Major players
Virender Sehwag | Bishan Bedi | Mohinder Amarnath | Manoj Prabhakar | Maninder Singh | Gautam Gambhir | Ajay Jadeja | Ashish Nehra | Madan Lal
Virender Sehwag | Bishan Bedi | Mohinder Amarnath | Manoj Prabhakar | Maninder Singh | Gautam Gambhir | Ajay Jadeja | Ashish Nehra | Madan Lal
Home team
Delhi have won the Ranji Trophy seven times and been runners-up seven times. For long Mumbai dominated the domestic tournament, but Delhi challenged for a decade: between 1978 and 1987, they were in the finals every year barring one, and won the trophy four times. Their latest title, in 2007-08, came after a 16-year hiatus.
Delhi have won the Ranji Trophy seven times and been runners-up seven times. For long Mumbai dominated the domestic tournament, but Delhi challenged for a decade: between 1978 and 1987, they were in the finals every year barring one, and won the trophy four times. Their latest title, in 2007-08, came after a 16-year hiatus.
The IPL side, the Delhi Daredevils, are highly rated but have never gone as far as they have been expected to.