Nagpur: All roads lead to VCA’s Jamtha Stadium, Nagpur, as the stage is set for a thrilling showdown between Team India and England in the first One Day International (ODI) on Thursday, February 6. With the city’s cricket fever at an all-time high, fans are gearing up to cheer for the ‘Men in Blue’ in their signature Nagpuri style.
Fresh from their T20 series victory, India will look to maintain their dominance, while England will be determined to turn the tables. The clash at Nagpur’s newly-laid pitch also serves as a crucial dress rehearsal for the upcoming Champions Trophy, now just 15 days away.
Gold Rate
Thursday 06 Feb. 2025
Tight security and arrangements in place
The Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA), Nagpur Police, and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) have left no stone unturned to ensure smooth conduct of the high-profile match. Traffic management, security deployments, and fan arrangements have all been meticulously planned.
A historic rivalry revived in Nagpur
Exactly 40 years and 13 days after their first ODI battle in Nagpur, India and England will once again face off in the city. On January 23, 1985, Nagpur made its international cricket debut as a host city, with India clinching a three-wicket victory over England at the Civil Lines Stadium. Cricket legends Sunil Gavaskar (52 runs) and Kapil Dev (54 runs) played key roles in India’s win.
Since then, Nagpur has proven to be a happy hunting ground for Team India, having won 10 out of 18 ODIs played here. While the old Civil Lines stadium hosted 12 ODIs between 1985 and 2007, international action shifted to Jamtha Stadium in 2009, following VCA’s ambitious new project.
Jamtha’s glorious ODI moments
In its short history as an international venue, Jamtha has witnessed some memorable performances:
• October 28, 2009: MS Dhoni’s iconic 124-run knock powered India to a 99-run victory over Australia in Jamtha’s first-ever ODI.
• 2013 & 2017: Virat Kohli’s centuries at the venue played a pivotal role in India’s wins over Australia.
• 2017: Rohit Sharma scored his maiden ODI century in his hometown, solidifying Nagpur’s place in his cricketing journey.
With cricket history woven deep into Nagpur’s fabric, fans are eager for another electrifying contest at Jamtha. Will India extend its dominance, or will England script a comeback? The countdown has begun!
