Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is situated in a beautiful area, near the hills, close to Kandy. It is an attractive and modern cricket stadium in Sri Lanka.
In this article, we will discuss about the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, matches, records, pitch reports, weather conditions and more.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium: Overview
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is located in Pallekele, which is around 15 km east of Kandy in Sri Lanka. It was built in 2009 specifically for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and, thus, became one of the significant sports venues in the country.
History and Development
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was built on 2009 in Sri Lanka. this Stadium was built to take the place of Asgiriya Stadium, which had hosted Test matches from 1983 to 2007. The construction of the stadium was part of preparation efforts by Sri Lanka in advance of the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup, with an additional stadium built in Hambantota.
Stadium was officially opened to the public on November 27, 2009, and soon became the 104th venue in the World to host Test matches. the First Test match was played between Sri Lanka & West Indies in December 2010.
Since its opening, Pallekele has hosted many international matches, including games in the World Cup and the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, and established a prominent home ground for the national team & local teams such as Kandurata.
| Named As | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium |
| Established in | 2009 |
| Location | Pallekele, Kandy District, Sri Lanka; 15 km from Kandy City on the A26 Highway |
| Seating Capacity | 35,000 |
| Playing Area | 80 m long, 75 m wide |
| End Names | Hunnasgiriya End, Rikillagaskada End |
| Pitch Type | Grass |
| Flood Lights | Yes |
Design and Infrastructure
- Balance with Nature: The stadium’s design complements the backdrop of Kandy’s green hills by blending seamlessly with the green canopies of trees above and around the structure without overpowering the scenic views.
- Modern Pavilions and Stands: The large and comfortable stands offer seats that are easy on the body. VIP and corporate lounges add a blend of luxury and functionality, offering an additional flair of hospitality to guests.
- Player-friendly Amenities: The stadium’s state-of-the-art dressing rooms, vast grassed practice net areas (16 to 17), extensive gym and medical facilities focusing on treatment and player health, create a complete venue for tier one cricket.
- Floodlighting and Day-Night Capability: With the introduction of the floodlights post stadium opening, scheduling matches after 5 pm or even on a rainy day was simply a matter of having lights. As the floodlights offer even glare and projection on the ground, games remain exciting for each player.
- Roomy Playing Area: At approximately 80 meters long and 75 meters wide, the field layout favours fast-paced games. Also, with a fairly stipulated pitch or surface, both batters and bowlers hold an equal advantage, thus contributing to highly competitive matches.
- Supportive Infrastructure: The primary drainage system makes sure the playing field is barely impeded when it is rainy. Aside from having spacious walkways and seating provided on the grass banks, spectators’ match day engagements comprised bigger areas, in their space, and experiential, informative naturalness.
Pallekele Stadium Pitch Report
- The Pitch is well-balanced and gives the equal opportunity to batsmen and bowlers .
- As the game begins, the surface will be fresh and fast bowlers will receive good bounce and swing, making it very difficult for the batsmen.
- As the match progresses on the pitch, it begins to flatten out, which allows batsmen to easily play their shots and build their run scores.
- As the match carries on, especially when the light fades, the pitch slows down, which will allow spin bowlers to gain more control, and spin will dictate some influence on the game.
- Looking at the scoring across the first innings, tests are usually around 323 runs in the first innings, ODIs around 280 runs, and T20Is around 161-168 runs, suggesting a balanced contest.
- Teams that win the toss generally bat first! It can be very difficult to chase runs, due to the pitch slowing down, and pressure (more so in a T20 game) under lights.
- The stadium has good drainage, thus reducing delays in play due to rain, and early delays will allow the match to continue quickly again.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Stats
| Format | First Match | Last Match | Highest Team Total | Lowest Team Total |
| Tests | West Indies vs Sri Lanka, Dec 1-5, 2010 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Apr 29 – May 3, 2021 | 648/8 by Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh (2021) | 117 by Sri Lanka vs Australia (2011) |
| ODIs | New Zealand vs Pakistan, Mar 8, 2011 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, July 8, 2025 | 381/3 by Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan (2023) | 70 by Zimbabwe vs Sri Lanka (2022) |
| T20Is | Sri Lanka vs Australia, Aug 6, 2011 | Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka, July 10, 2025 | 263/3 by Australia vs Sri Lanka (2016) | 88 by New Zealand vs Sri Lanka (2019) |
| WODIs | Sri Lanka Women vs India Women, July 1, 2022 | India Women vs Sri Lanka Women, July 7, 2022 | 280+ (Typically around 280-290 by India Women) | 78 by Sri Lanka Women vs India Women |
| YTests | Bangladesh U19 vs Sri Lanka U19, Feb 2-4, 2015 | South Africa U19 vs Sri Lanka U19, July 3-5, 2016 | (Data varies; high totals in the 400–500 range) | (Data varies; lowest often under 100) |
| YODIs | Pakistan U19 vs Bangladesh U19, Nov 29, 2009 (only YODI) | N/A (Only YODI held) | (Data not specified) | (Data not specified) |
Records
Batting Records
| Format | Highest Individual Score | Most Runs | Notable Partnerships |
| Tests | 195 by Kumar Sangakkara vs Pakistan (2012) | Kumar Sangakkara: 865 in 11 inns | Multiple 100+ stands; Jayawardene/Sangakkara: 181 |
| ODIs | 210* by Pathum Nissanka vs Afghanistan (2024) | Tillakaratne Dilshan: 939 in 15 inns | Jayasuriya/Tharanga: 282, several 175+ |
| T20Is | 145* by Glenn Maxwell vs SL (2016) | Kusal Perera: 313 in 9 inns | Frequent 70+ run partnerships |
| WODIs | ~113* by Smriti Mandhana vs SL Women (2022) | Harmanpreet Kaur: 191 in 3 inns | Highest 90+ by Mandhana/Kaur |
| WT20Is | ~70+ (specific best: 73 by Shashikala Siriwardene) | Shashikala Siriwardene: 187 | Partnerships frequently 40–70+ |
Bowling Records
| Most Wickets | Best Bowling Figures |
| Rangana Herath: 47 | 7/107 by Lakshan Sandakan (vs Aus, 2016) |
| Nuwan Kulasekara: 30 | 6/31 by Mitchell Johnson (AUS, 2011) |
| Lasith Malinga: 18 | 5/6 by Lasith Malinga vs NZ (2019) |
| Best: 4/30 by Renuka Singh Thakur (2022) | 4/30 by Renuka Singh (2022) |
| Best: 4/14 by Inoka Ranaweera | 4/14 by Inoka Ranaweera |
Weather Conditions
Location: The stadium is located in a tropical region where the climate is usually warm and humid, with often cloudy skies.
Typical Weather: The temperature is typically 28°C (83°F), and the humidity is high, at around 68%, creating a warm, humid atmosphere.
Clouds: The cloud cover typically ranges from 48% to about 97%, which can reduce sun exposure and clear visibility of the playing field.
Winds: Winds are either light or moderate, typically from the west at approximately 7 mph, which may impact bowling and ball movement when bowled.
Seasonal Weather: The days are usually humid, but one can get some sun; however, mornings may have rainfall, and during the rainy season, it is cloudy and rainy.
Match Impact: These conditions can affect the pitch and its behaviour, the player’s experience, and the game in general. It may be,
Way to Reach Pallekele Cricket Stadium
By Car or Taxi:
The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is located approximately 15km east of Kandy city on the A26 highway. Taking a taxi or driving your own vehicle usually takes about 30 minutes from downtown Kandy. For most tourists, it is common to use a ride-app (Uber) or local cuitrer, and this can be very easy. Tuk-tuks are also quite common around Kandy for short trips and could be a fun and economical option.
Public Transport:
The closest major train station is in Kandy, which has connections to much of the rest of Sri Lanka. You could take the train to Kandy railway station and then a taxi/tuk-tuk from there to the stadium. It is also possible to use any number of bus routes that run along the A26 highway close to the Pallekele Stadium. There may be many good budget options for travel between Kandy and the Stadium via local bus services.
Private Vehicles and Parking:
If you’re driving there, you should try to arrive very early to attempt to park. There is limited street parking available near the stadium, and you will need to follow local requirements, so plan accordingly.
Pallekele Stadium Comparison with Competitors Stadium
| Stadium | Location | Capacity | Significance/Notes |
| Pallekele Stadium | Kandy, Sri Lanka | 35,000 | Scenic venue, modern infrastructure, balanced pitch |
| R. Premadasa Stadium | Colombo, Sri Lanka | 40,000+ | Largest in SL, hosts finals and big tournaments |
| Galle International Stadium | Galle, Sri Lanka | 18,000 | Famous for its seaside backdrop, spin-friendly |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata, India | 66,000 | One of the world’s most iconic cricket venues |
| Melbourne Cricket Ground | Melbourne, Australia | 100,000+ | The historic and largest cricket stadium globally |
Conclusion
The Pallekele International Stadium is a cultural blend of Sri Lankan love for cricket and its scenic beauty. It is significant for hosting many great matches, which were record-breaking. This stadium is the fans’ and players’ favourite. The combination of natural beauty, fair playing conditions, and unforgettable cricketing moments affords it global recognition as one of the game’s leading international venues. For players, it offers a great sense of fairness; for spectators, it provides spectacular views and a unique celebrational experience.
