The R Premadasa Stadium Colombo pitch report and records in T20I, ODI, and test provide a comprehensive analysis of one of Sri Lanka’s most historic cricket venues.
Located in Colombo’s Khettarama area, this iconic stadium has hosted World Cups, Asia Cups, bilateral series, and memorable international encounters since 1986.
R. Premadasa Stadium is renowned for its spin-friendly surface, humid conditions, and tactical cricket requirements across all formats.
The venue consistently produces competitive matches where patience, spin bowling, and intelligent batting determine outcomes.
R Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report and Records in T20I, ODIs, and Test

This detailed breakdown examines pitch characteristics, weather conditions, ground statistics, and format-specific patterns to help understand how this venue influences match results and strategic planning.
R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo – Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium |
| Former Name | Khettarama Stadium |
| Location | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Established | 1986 |
| Seating Capacity | Approximately 35,000 |
| First T20I | Sri Lanka vs New Zealand (2009) |
| First ODI | Sri Lanka vs Australia (1986) |
| First Test | Sri Lanka vs Australia (1992) |
| Ends | Pavilion End, Scoreboard End |
| Home Team | Sri Lanka National Team |
| IPL Hosted | Yes (2010 Season) |
| Owner | Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) |
R. Premadasa Stadium Pitch Report – Batting or Bowling Pitch?
- Surface Nature: The r premadasa stadium colombo pitch report indicates a slow, spin-dominated surface offering low to medium bounce. The dry track provides substantial grip for spinners, making stroke-play increasingly difficult as matches progress through innings phases.
- Bounce & Pace: The pitch delivers inconsistent bounce with minimal pace assistance for fast bowlers. Batsmen struggle with timing deliveries as the surface lacks true bounce, requiring significant adjustment to shot selection and footwork positioning.
- Spin Assistance: Spinners dominate proceedings with exceptional grip and turn available throughout the match duration. Wrist-spinners and finger-spinners extract considerable purchase, creating challenging conditions for batsmen attempting aggressive stroke-play against quality spin variations.
- Batting Difficulty Over Time: Early innings batting proves relatively manageable with a fresh surface offering truer bounce. As matches progress, the pitch slows dramatically, making run-scoring laborious and requiring intelligent rotation rather than boundary-hitting for accumulation.
- Fast Bowlers Strategy: Pace bowlers rely on cutters, slower balls, and intelligent variations rather than raw speed. The surface provides minimal seam movement or swing, forcing seamers to adopt controlled approaches emphasizing accuracy over aggression.
R. Premadasa Stadium T20 Pitch Report (T20Is & LPL)
- Powerplay Conditions: Opening batsmen face cautious initial phases as the pitch offers early movement and grip. Aggressive stroke-play carries elevated risk during powerplay overs, requiring measured approaches balancing attack with consolidation for platform building.
- Middle Overs Impact: Spinners dominate middle-over phases (7-16) where batsmen struggle against turn and grip. The r premadasa stadium colombo records in t20I demonstrate significant wicket clusters during this period as batting sides navigate challenging spin-friendly conditions.
- Death Overs Pattern: Slower balls and yorker variations prove most effective during death overs. The pitch’s two-paced nature makes clean hitting difficult, allowing disciplined death bowlers containing opportunities through intelligent length and pace variations.
- Dew Factor in Night Matches: Evening fixtures witness dew accumulation during second innings, compromising spin effectiveness and assisting chasing teams. The moisture reduces grip, allowing batsmen freer stroke-play against compromised bowling attacks struggling with slippery conditions.
- Competitive First Innings Score: First innings totals ranging 150-170 represent competitive scores on this surface. Teams exceeding 160 establish strong positions, while scores below 140 create challenging but achievable chasing targets depending on batting depth.
- Toss Strategy: Winning captains typically elect batting first before pitch deterioration and dew factor complicate bowling efforts. Setting totals proves advantageous as defending teams exploit slowing surface during middle-over spin dominance phases.
R. Premadasa Stadium ODI Pitch Report
- Early Overs Advantage: Opening partnerships capitalize on relatively favorable batting conditions during initial overs. Fresh surfaces provide truer bounce and timing opportunities before spin begins dominating proceedings through middle-over control and wicket-taking.
- Middle Overs Spin Control: Spinners establish a stranglehold during overs 11-40 where batsmen struggle rotating strike against quality variations. The r premadasa stadium colombo records in ODI highlight how spin bowling success during these phases determines match outcomes through wicket clusters.
- Batting Partnerships Role: Successful innings construction requires substantial partnerships rather than individual brilliance. Batsmen building extended stands navigate challenging conditions through intelligent rotation, calculated aggression, and situational awareness across different match phases.
- Humidity & Player Fatigue: Colombo’s oppressive humidity significantly impacts player stamina and concentration levels. Bowlers experience fatigue affecting control and pace, while batsmen face dehydration challenges requiring careful physical management throughout extended innings durations.
- Safe First Innings Score: First innings totals between 270-300 provide competitive positions for defending teams. Scores exceeding 280 establish strong advantages, though partnerships and disciplined bowling can defend lower totals given pitch assistance.
R. Premadasa Stadium Test Pitch Report
- Day 1–2 Conditions: Opening Test days offer reasonable batting conditions with minimal deterioration. The surface provides consistent bounce and moderate pace, allowing batsmen building substantial innings through patient accumulation and selective aggression against fresh bowling attacks.
- Day 3 Surface Change: The pitch begins slowing noticeably by third day as surface wear creates increasing turn and variable bounce. The r premadasa stadium colombo records in test show this transition period proving crucial for establishing match-winning positions.
- Day 4–5 Deterioration: Final Test days witness sharp turn and uneven bounce creating extremely challenging batting conditions. Spinners dominate completely with substantial assistance, making fourth-innings chases particularly difficult against quality spin attacks exploiting deteriorated surfaces.
- Spin Dominance: Quality spinners prove match-winners on this classic subcontinental surface. The pitch rewards patience, flight variations, and intelligent field placements as batsmen struggle against turn, bounce inconsistencies, and psychological pressure across extended periods.
R. Premadasa Stadium Weather Today (Match Conditions)
- Temperature Range: Typical match-day temperatures range between 26°C and 33°C creating warm playing conditions. The r premadasa stadium colombo weather report today indicates consistent tropical climate patterns affecting player fitness and strategic considerations throughout match duration.
- Humidity Levels: Colombo experiences persistently high humidity levels creating oppressive atmospheric conditions. This moisture affects ball behavior, player stamina, and fielding efficiency while influencing bowling effectiveness and batting concentration across extended playing periods.
- Rain Possibility: Monsoon seasons bring elevated precipitation risks creating potential match interruptions. Rain delays affect match continuity, pitch conditions, and strategic planning, particularly during monsoon periods when weather systems create unpredictable playing environments.
- Dew Impact: Evening fixtures face significant dew accumulation during second innings creating bowling challenges. The moisture compromises spin bowling effectiveness and assists batsmen through reduced grip, often favoring teams chasing targets in night matches.
R. Premadasa Stadium – Ground Stats & Records
R. Premadasa Stadium T20I Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 62 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 26 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 35 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 143 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 128 |
| Highest Team Total | 215/5 (19.4 Ovs) by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka |
| Lowest Team Total | 80/10 (17.2 Ovs) by Afghanistan vs England |
R. Premadasa Stadium ODI Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 187 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 104 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 71 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 231 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 189 |
| Highest Team Total | 375/5 (50 Ovs) by India vs Sri Lanka |
| Lowest Team Total | 50/10 (15.2 Ovs) by Sri Lanka vs India |
R. Premadasa Stadium Test Stats
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 8 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 2 |
| Matches Won Bowling First | 3 |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 319 |
| Average 2nd Innings Score | 385 |
| Average 3rd Innings Score | 288 |
| Average 4th Innings Score | 246 |
| Highest Team Total | 952/6 (271 Ovs) by Sri Lanka vs India |
| Lowest Team Total | 86/10 (27.4 Ovs) by Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka |
R. Premadasa Stadium FAQs
- Where is R. Premadasa Stadium located?
R. Premadasa Stadium is situated in Colombo, Sri Lanka, specifically in the Khettarama area. The venue serves as one of Sri Lanka’s primary international cricket grounds, hosting major tournaments and bilateral series.
- What is the seating capacity?
The stadium accommodates approximately 35,000 spectators across its various stands and seating sections. This capacity makes it one of Sri Lanka’s larger cricket venues capable of hosting major international fixtures and tournament matches.
- Is it a batting pitch?
The pitch favors spinners over batsmen, particularly as matches progress. While early batting conditions prove manageable, the surface slows dramatically, creating challenging stroke-play conditions requiring patience and intelligent shot selection.
- What is the highest score here?
The r premadasa stadium colombo records show the highest totals, including 375/5 in ODIs by India versus Sri Lanka, 215/5 in T20Is by Bangladesh versus Sri Lanka, and 952/6 declared in Tests by Sri Lanka versus India.
- What type of pitch is it?
The surface is characteristically slow and spin-friendly, offering substantial grip and turn. Spinners dominate the middle overs while pacers rely on variations rather than pace. Batsmen require patience and tactical awareness to navigate challenging conditions.
Conclusion
The r premadasa stadium colombo pitch report and records in t20I, ODI and test confirm this venue as a tactical cricket battleground, favoring spin bowling and intelligent batting.
The slow surface, humid conditions, and progressive deterioration create unique challenges across all formats.
Understanding venue characteristics proves essential for strategic planning, team selection, and tactical execution at this historic Colombo ground.
- Best Format for Big Scores: ODI cricket produces the highest totals with first innings averages around 231, though partnerships and patience remain crucial for accumulation.
- Pitch Nature: Slow, spin-dominated surface offering low bounce, substantial grip, and progressive deterioration favoring quality spinners throughout match duration.
- Ideal Strategy: Prioritize quality spin bowling, patient batting accumulation, intelligent rotation, and tactical awareness, navigating challenging conditions across all formats.
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