What am I looking at?
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, popularly known as SMS Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
The quick answer
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium, popularly known as SMS Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. It was built in 1969 during the reign of Sawai Man Singh II, the last ruling Maharaja of the state of Jaipur. The stadium is owned by the Government of Rajasthan and operated by RCA, having a seating capacity of about 30,000 spectators. The stadium is the home ground of Rajasthan Royals, a team in the Indian Premier League.
How it came to be
The Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted a solitary Test match, between India and Pakistan, starting in February 1987, when Pakistan President General Zia-ul-Haq crossed the border to watch the second day's play as part of his "Cricket for Peace" initiative.
The detail most people miss
The Test was notable for Younis Ahmed's return to the Test fray after an absence of over 17 years and also for Sunil Gavaskar's dismissal to the first ball of the Test match. Gavaskar's dismissal made him the first batsman to be dismissed three times on the first ball, a feat unmatched until Bangladesh's Hannan Sarker was dismissed on the first ball for a third time in 2004.
Why it still matters
The game sputtered to a draw after the third day's play was abandoned following heavy rain and a controversy over the alleged deposition of sawdust on the wicket which Pakistan objected to.
Look closer
The stadium's ODI debut had kicked off with a contest between the same two sides on 2 October 1983. Fresh from their World Cup triumph, the Indians comfortably won by four wickets, sporting the same XI that won the World Cup final.