New Delhi: International cricket is set to return to Gwalior after a span of 14 years as India host Bangladesh in the first of the three T20 Internationals on Sunday, October 6 at the newly-built venue Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium. Just nearly 12 kilometres away from the newly cricket facility is the Captain Roop Singh Stadium, the iconic venue of the Madhya Pradesh city.
Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar scripted history on February 24, 2010, at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium after becoming the first batter in men’s cricket to score a double-hundred against a formidable bowling attack of South Africa led by fiery speedster Dale Steyn. The Indian opener smashed 25 boundaries and three sixes to register the highest individual score in men’s One Day Internationals back then.
It was a sensational knock from the country’s biggest sporting icon which beguiled the fans of Gwalior more than any fans in the country. The vivid memories of the first-ever-double-hundred are still fresh in the minds of those who witnessed the knock from the venue itself.
“We couldn’t believe we had seen something that was almost impossible in one-day cricket at that time,” Sunil Gupta, who is a scorer with Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
“This match was accidentally moved from Kanpur to Gwalior 20 days earlier. Our pitch and ground were ready, but international cricket requires a lot more preparation. Our association completed these preparations in a very short time and what happened after that, the whole world knows it now,” Gupta added.
Captain Roop Singh Stadium in dilapidated state
The 20000-capacity seated stadium hasn’t the same charm anymore as reports suggest the conditions at the venue have deteriorated even though it still hosts domestic cricket matches with the Irani Cup held here.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the scoreboards at the venue are rusted, the floodlights have been in the state of desuetude for a long time, stands aren’t in good shape. Another report mentioned that the seats have cements all over the place.
Nevertheless, the joy for cricket lovers in Gwalior will be back as Suryakumar Yadav and his men aim to continue its winning ways in the new dawn of Indian T20I team.
It was Sachin Tendulkar’s historic double-hundred when the last time the Gwalior city saw an international cricket match. 14 years later the joy erupts once again for the ones who watched that knock as cricket returns to the Madya Pradesh city in the form of first T20 International match between India and Bangladesh. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
