Sawai Mansingh Stadium Pitch Report: Records, Matches, Capacity, Stats
Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS Stadium) in Jaipur, home to Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, is one of the best cricket venues in India. With its spacious outfield and enthusiastic fans, the stadium has been home to some of the most memorable moments of IPL cricket.
After hosting its first IPL game on April 21, 2008, when RR chased down 166 against Punjab Kings, the stadium quickly added itself to the list of dreaded venues. Over the years, Jaipur has developed a reputation for providing batting-friendly surfaces. In short, it has produced plenty of drama under the lights.
Let’s delve deeper into the pitch behaviour, IPL records, statistics and historical significance of Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
What’s The Importance Swami Stadium?
Sawai Mansingh Stadium is located in the heart of Jaipur, Rajasthan and has been the home of cricket in the state for decades. While it hosts international matches, the stadium’s fame has skyrocketed due to the IPL. Rajasthan Royals, who won the inaugural edition in 2008, have made their legacy here. With the win, fans associate the pink jersey and the Swamy Stadium as a perfect match.
This ground is indeed known for cricket, but it is also famous for its picturesque atmosphere. As we can say, Jaipur’s cultural charm blends easily with its new infrastructure. For cricket lovers, this stadium offers both memories and excitement.
Sawai Mansingh Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at Sawai Mansingh Stadium is known for being balanced. This means that it favours both batsmen and bowlers depending on the conditions. However, statistics suggest that chasing teams have a significant advantage here. Of the 64 IPL matches played at this venue, 41 have been won by teams batting second. This equates to a success rate of over 64%.
This is largely because the pitch softens under the lights, making it easier to make strokes in the second innings. Mist also plays a role, neutralising spin and allowing chasing teams to score freely. Batsmen who can pace their innings well often succeed here, while bowlers get enough purchase by bowling smart lengths. The average first innings score at SMS is around 165, while the average second innings is 151.7.
Ground Dimensions And Outfield
The Sawai Man Singh Stadium is one of the most unique stadiums in the world, with one of the highest outfields in the IPL. In smaller venues like the Chinna Stadium, boundary-scoring is more common. This makes it important to run between the wickets, as teams cannot afford to hit sixes on both sides.
Key IPL Records
The stadium has been home to several memorable performances in IPL history. Here are the standout records:
- Highest Team Total: (219/5), Punjab Kings vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2025
- Lowest Team Total: (59) Rajasthan Royals vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru, IPL 2023
- Highest Successful Run Chase: (217/6) Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2023
- Highest Individual Score: (113) Virat Kohli (RCB vs RR, IPL 2024)
- Best Bowling Figures: (6/14) Sohail Tanvir (RR vs CSK, IPL 2008)
- Total 200+ Scores: 8 (one of the lowest among IPL venues)
These records highlight the variability of the pitch. As on some days, it can produce massive totals, while on others, bowlers dominate.
Stats And Insights of Swami Mansingh Stadium
These numbers reinforce the venue’s reputation as a ground that slightly favors chasing sides.
IPL
| Stat | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 57 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 20 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 37 |
| Matches With No Result | 0 |
| Matches Tied | 1 |
| Average First Innings Score | 161 |
| Highest Team Total | 217 – SRH vs RR |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 217 |
| Lowest Total Defended | 144 |
| Lowest Team Total | 59/10 – RR vs RCB |
Test
| Stat | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 1 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 0 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 0 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 465 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 341 |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 114 |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 128 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 465/8 (163.3 overs) – IND vs PAK |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 341/10 (128.1 overs) – PAK vs IND |
| Highest Score Chased | NA |
| Lowest Score Defended | NA |
| First Test Hosted | Feb 21, 1987 (IND vs PAK – Draw) |
ODI
| Stat | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 28 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 10 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 18 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 219 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 201 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 362/1 (43.3 overs) – IND vs AUS |
| Lowest Total Recorded | 93/10 (44.1 overs) – SLW vs INDW |
| Highest Score Chased | 362/1 (43.3 overs) – IND vs AUS |
| Lowest Score Defended | 133/9 (50 overs) – AUS W vs IND W |
T20I
| Stat | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 1 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 0 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 1 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 164 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 166 |
| Highest Total Recorded | 166/5 (19.4 overs) – IND vs NZ |
| Lowest Total Recorded | NA |
| Highest Score Chased | 166/5 (19.4 overs) – IND vs NZ |
| Lowest Score Defended | NA |
Legends of SMS Stadium
- Ajinkya Rahane: With 1115 runs in 37 matches, Rahane is the top run-scorer at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. His consistent batting made him a reliable force for Rajasthan Royals.
- Sanju Samson: Current Rajasthan Royals captain. Samson is among the top three run-scorers at the venue, known for his explosive batting in front of home fans.
- Siddharth Trivedi: The medium pacer is the top wicket-taker here with 36 wickets in 32 matches. It was a testament to how effective clever pace variations can be on this surface.
- Shane Warne: The legendary Australian spinner and RR’s first-ever captain. Warne picked up 20 wickets in 17 matches here, and his tactical brilliance remains part of the venue’s folklore.
You might also like: Wankhede Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report – Bowling and Batting, Records & Stats
Batting and Bowling Trends
For Batters:
- Players who rely on timing and placement do well due to the big outfield.
- Strike rotation is key, as hitting sixes is harder than at smaller grounds.
- Scores in excess of 180 are defendable, but chasing teams often back themselves under lights.
For Bowlers:
- Spinners have historically been useful, especially in the middle overs.
- Fast bowlers with variations (cutters, slower balls) find success due to the pitch’s grip and bounce.
- Dew can be a challenge, particularly for spinners in night games.
Overall Pitch Behavior Summary
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium is a venue that offers conditions that appeal to both batsmen and bowlers. However, the pitch’s tendency to soften in the mist and light gives a significant advantage to the chasing teams.
Only eight matches have seen scores over 200. But the stadium still hosts exciting matches where strategy and adaptability matter more than raw power.
Conclusion
This pitch offers something for everyone! With its perfect outfield and dramatic Menin history, the SMS Stadium is one of the most intriguing narratives of the IPL. Be it Virat Kohli’s shots, Tanvir’s runs or Sanju Sena’s hits, there is a great sense of excitement going on for this cricketing history.
FAQs
Q1. Why does the Sawai Mansingh Stadium favor chasing teams?
This stadium may be preferred by batting teams, as the pitch is soft in light, the music allows batsmen to be more free in the second innings. Fog is the main service reaction, the police make it comfortable to speak, while speaking better at bat.
Q2. Is the Sawai Mansingh Stadium a high-scoring ground?
Not always. While this ground has scored over 200 on eight occasions, it still has one of the lowest scores compared to other IPL grounds. However, the average first innings score is around 165 which shows that the ground’s total score is competitive.
Q3. Who are the top performers at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in IPL history?
The highest run-scorer at this ground is Ajinkya Rahane who has scored 115 runs. Apart from him, veteran Rajasthan Royals batsmen Shane Watson and Sanju Samson are also in the running. Among the bowlers, Siddharth Trivedi is the top wicket-taker with 36 wickets, followed by Shane Warne. Virat Kohli (113) and Sohail Tanvir (14/6) also have individual records at this ground.
Q4. How do the ground dimensions at SMS affect matches?
The stadium has one of the largest outfields in the IPL, making it more difficult to hit boundaries than smaller venues. This benefits bowlers, as batsmen have to rely on strike rotation and placement rather than relying solely on power.
Q5. What role does the toss play at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium?
The toss does not always decide the match, but teams winning the toss have won about 56% of the games here. Captains usually prefer to chase due to the fog factor and the pitch improves in the light. However, defending teams with a disciplined bowling strategy have also found success on this ground.
