Feroz Shah Kotla. Photo: User:आशीष भटनागर / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Overview

Feroz Shah Kotla, located in Delhi, India, has served as a prominent venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the competition's early years. The stadium hosted its first IPL match in 2008, establishing a long-standing record of hosting franchise cricket in the national capital. From 2008 to 2026, the venue has been the stage for 104 IPL matches, contributing significantly to the league's statistical landscape. This volume of fixtures provides a robust dataset for analyzing team performances, batting trends, and bowling efficiencies specific to the Delhi conditions.

Statistical analysis of the 104 matches reveals notable milestones in team and individual performances. The highest team total recorded at Feroz Shah Kotla in the IPL is 278/3. This score highlights the venue's potential for high-scoring encounters, where batting lineups can capitalize on the pitch characteristics to post formidable targets for the chasing side. The consistency of such high totals over the 18-year span from 2008 to 2026 suggests that the ground has evolved to favor aggressive batting strategies, a hallmark of modern T20 cricket.

In terms of individual brilliance, the highest individual score at this venue is 152. This record underscores the capacity of the ground to reward dominant batting displays, allowing a single batsman to take control of a match with a century-plus contribution. The combination of a high team total of 278/3 and an individual high score of 152 indicates that Feroz Shah Kotla offers a balanced challenge for both batsmen and bowlers, with the potential for explosive innings that can define the outcome of an IPL fixture. These records stand as key benchmarks for players competing at this historic Delhi stadium.

Venue Profile

The Feroz Shah Kotla, historically known as Kotla, is a cricket venue located in Delhi, India. The site derives its name from a fortress constructed circa 1354 by Feroz Shah Tughlaq. This historical structure was built to house Firozabad, which served as Feroz Shah Tughlaq's version of Delhi. The area is characterized by significant historical landmarks, including the Ashokan pillar and the Jami Masjid. These features underscore the venue's deep-rooted connection to the historical landscape of Delhi.

In the context of Twenty20 cricket, the Feroz Shah Kotla has served as a key venue for the Indian Premier League (IPL). The stadium hosted its first T20 match in 2008, marking the beginning of its tenure as a regular stop on the IPL calendar. As a home ground within the IPL framework, the venue has facilitated numerous franchise matchups, contributing to the statistical records of the league. The transition from a historical fortress site to a modern cricket stadium highlights the evolving use of Delhi's sporting infrastructure. The venue's role in the IPL began in 2008, establishing a long-standing presence in the competition's history. While the site is rich in historical significance, its primary function in the T20 domain is defined by its hosting of IPL matches since 2008. The specific details of the fortress construction and the associated landmarks provide a unique backdrop for the cricketing events held at this location. The venue continues to be an integral part of the IPL schedule, reflecting its importance in the league's geographical spread across India.

IPL Match History and Team Totals

IPL Match History and Team Totals

Feroz Shah Kotla has hosted 104 matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since the venue's first T20 match in 2008. The ground has witnessed significant statistical extremes in team performances during this period.

The highest team total recorded at Feroz Shah Kotla in the IPL is 278/3. This score was achieved by Sunrisers Hyderabad against Kolkata Knight Riders on 2025-05-25. This performance stands as the peak offensive output for a franchise at this Delhi venue in the competition.

Conversely, the lowest team total at the stadium is 7/1. This record was set by Kolkata Knight Riders against Delhi Capitals on 2019-03-30. This match highlights the defensive dominance possible at the venue, contrasting sharply with the high-scoring nature of the 2025 encounter.

These records define the range of team totals at Feroz Shah Kotla, spanning from a single-digit score to a near-280 chase. The data reflects the evolving scoring patterns in the IPL over the years at this historic Delhi ground.

What are the individual batting and bowling records at Feroz Shah Kotla?

Individual Batting and Bowling Records

Analysis of the 104 matches played at Feroz Shah Kotla reveals distinct individual milestones in both batting and bowling departments. The venue has hosted a range of performances, with the highest individual score standing as a key statistical marker for batters facing the Delhi conditions.

The record for the highest individual score at this venue is 152 runs, achieved by KL Rahul playing for the Delhi Capitals. This performance was recorded on 2026-04-25, marking a significant batting display in the franchise's history at this ground. This score represents the ceiling of individual batting output captured in the available data for this specific stadium within the IPL competition.

On the bowling front, the best figures recorded at Feroz Shah Kotla are 5 wickets for 12 runs. This achievement was accomplished by SL Malinga on 2011-04-10. These figures highlight the potential for dominant bowling spells at the venue, particularly when the pitch offers assistance to fast bowlers. The combination of five wickets and a low economy rate underscores the impact of Malinga's performance in that specific match.

These records—KL Rahul's 152 runs and SL Malinga's 5/12—serve as the primary individual benchmarks for players competing at Feroz Shah Kotla. The data spans from the venue's first T20 match in 2008 through to the 2026 season, providing a comprehensive view of individual excellence over the course of 104 games. No other individual batting or bowling records are explicitly detailed in the current dataset for this venue.

How does Feroz Shah Kotla compare to other IPL grounds?

Feroz Shah Kotla, located in Delhi, India, has established itself as a significant venue within the Indian Premier League (IPL) since its first T20 match in 2008. The stadium has hosted 104 IPL matches, placing it among the more frequently used grounds in the tournament's history. This volume of fixtures provides a robust dataset for analyzing pitch behavior and scoring trends specific to the Delhi venue.

The statistical range of team totals at Feroz Shah Kotla highlights the variable nature of the pitch conditions. The available data records an exceptionally high team total of 278/3, indicating periods where the surface offers substantial reward for batsmen, potentially favoring power-hitting and high strike rates. Conversely, the venue has also witnessed extremely low scores, with a recorded team total of just 7/1. This stark contrast between the highest and lowest totals suggests that the pitch can shift dramatically from a batting paradise to a challenging surface, often depending on factors such as the time of day, weather conditions, and the specific state of the turf during the match.

When comparing Feroz Shah Kotla to other IPL grounds, the frequency of 104 matches offers a middle-ground perspective. It is not as heavily utilized as some primary franchise homes that have hosted over 150 games, nor is it a secondary venue with fewer than 50 fixtures. This moderate frequency means that records set here are based on a substantial sample size, reducing the impact of outliers compared to venues with fewer matches. The data does not currently specify the highest individual score or the most wickets taken by a single bowler at this venue within the IPL context, limiting the ability to attribute specific batting or bowling dominance to particular players based solely on the provided statistics.

The nature of the scores at Feroz Shah Kotla implies that teams must adapt their strategies based on the specific match conditions. The potential for a total as high as 278/3 suggests that chasing teams can face significant pressure if the pitch remains true, while the possibility of a collapse to 7/1 indicates that batting first can be risky if the pitch deteriorates or if the bowling attack exploits the surface effectively. Analysts and fantasy cricket players should consider this variability when evaluating player performance at this venue, as the pitch does not consistently favor one style of play over another across all 104 matches.

See also