Rajkot likely to host India-England Test

Rajkot might get a chance to host its first Test by the end of this year when the England team tours India. Rajkot, the city in Gujarat, is currently the home venue for the IPL side Gujarat Lions.

The city is already delighted with as many as 5 IPL matches being played there and the fans are now in for some more cricket entertainment. The Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) secretary Niranjan Shah quoted that the city might get a chance to host a maiden Test against England.

The stadium at Khanderi, in Rajkot, was given the Test status last year and hence is now eligible to host the Test matches. India are scheduled to play 8 Tests this year and it is very likely that Rajkot bags one of them. New Zealand are slated to be touring in October and England are scheduled to arrive after that for a long 5 match Test series. “There are eight Tests slotted to be played in India this year. The New Zealanders will be coming in October for three Tests while the England team will tour India in November to play five Tests. Most likely, SCA will get to host one of the England Test matches,” the veteran administrator told TOI.

“There are eight Tests slotted to be played in India this year. The New Zealanders will be coming in October for three Tests while the England team will tour India in November to play five Tests. Most likely, SCA will get to host one of the England Test matches,” the veteran administrator told TOI.

The SCA Stadium at Rajkot has already hosted two ODIs, one against England in 2013 and the other one against South Africa last year. Rajkot’s local boy Cheteshwara Pujara was all pleased to hear the news and said it would be a delight for the fans to enjoy the longer version of the game. “It will be a big thing in Rajkot and people will love it. Ours is a small town and people here appreciate every kind of cricket being played here,” he quoted.

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