Ghaziabad has never been short of cricket enthusiasts, but finding a decent, floodlit ground where a weekend squad can turn up, play a proper match and go home satisfied is a different matter. Giriraj Cricket Ground is one of the names that regularly comes up in that conversation. Sitting beside the Elevated Road corridor on the Mohan Nagar and Raj Nagar Extension side of the city, it has served as a playing venue for local clubs, office teams, college groups and friendly tournament sides from across the Delhi-NCR belt.
This guide covers everything a player, team captain or tournament organiser would want to know: where the ground is, how to reach it, what facilities have been listed for it, what kind of cricket gets played there, how it compares with other grounds nearby, and what to check before you book.
Giriraj Cricket Ground at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Ground name | Giriraj Cricket Ground |
| City | Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh |
| Area | Near Elevated Road, Mohan Nagar / Raj Nagar Extension side |
| Type of venue | Local cricket ground for club, friendly and tournament matches |
| Typical formats played | 20-over matches, short 4-over games and knockout-style cup fixtures |
| Facilities listed | Umpires, scorers, drinking water, practice nets, floodlights, balls, washrooms, pavilion/dugout |
| Public rating | Around 3.8 out of 5 on one sports-discovery platform (233 reviews); around 4.2 on a cricket match-booking platform (136 reviews) |
| Nearest reference points | Elevated Road, Mohan Nagar, Raj Nagar Extension |
Where Is Giriraj Cricket Ground Located?
The ground is in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, close to the Elevated Road that links the Ghaziabad-Delhi stretch. Online listings place it in the Mohan Nagar neighbourhood and also reference Raj Nagar Extension Elevated Road, which tells you the ground sits in the busy corridor where residential colonies, industrial pockets and the main arterial road all meet.
A small note on addresses: different listings show different postal codes for the same stretch (201003 on some, 201001 on others). This is common for grounds that sit on the boundary of two postal zones, so rather than relying on a PIN code, search by the ground name on a maps application and use the Elevated Road landmark to guide you in the final few hundred metres.
How to Reach the Ground
One of the reasons the venue stays on the radar of NCR cricketers is its connectivity. Local reviewers describe the location as well connected to Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad proper, and that matches the geography: the Elevated Road corridor is one of the quickest ways to move between east Delhi and Ghaziabad.
- By road from Delhi: Teams coming from east Delhi can use the main Delhi-Ghaziabad road network and join the Elevated Road stretch. Travelling outside peak office hours makes the journey noticeably smoother.
- From Noida: Players from Noida usually reach Ghaziabad via the connecting roads towards Indirapuram or Raj Nagar Extension and then follow the Elevated Road landmark.
- From within Ghaziabad: For residents of Mohan Nagar, Raj Nagar Extension, Vaishali and nearby colonies, it is a short auto, cab or bike ride.
- By metro and last-mile transport: The nearest metro stations are on the Delhi-Ghaziabad lines. From there, e-rickshaws and app-based cabs cover the last stretch.
A practical tip for captains organising a match: share a live map pin with every player instead of a verbal description. Cricket kits are bulky, and nobody wants a teammate wandering the service road with a bat bag at 6:30 in the morning.
Facilities Listed at Giriraj Cricket Ground
On a popular cricket match-booking platform, the ground is listed with a facility set that is genuinely useful for organised matches rather than just casual net sessions. These include:
- Umpires: Having officials available lifts a friendly game to something that feels like a real fixture, and it reduces arguments over LBW and run-out decisions.
- Scorers: Digital or manual scoring helps teams keep proper records, which matters if you want player stats on a match-tracking app.
- Practice nets: Useful for warm-ups before a game or for dedicated batting and bowling practice.
- Floodlights: Evening and night matches are the lifeblood of weekday club cricket in NCR, because most players work office hours.
- Balls: Match balls being available saves teams from the common last-minute scramble.
- Drinking water and washrooms: Basic but essential, especially during Ghaziabad’s long, hot summers.
- Pavilion or dugout: A place to sit, store kit and regroup between overs.
Facility lists on third-party platforms can change, and individual items such as umpires or balls are sometimes chargeable extras. Always confirm what is included in your booking before the day of the match.
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What Kind of Cricket Is Played Here?
The match history shown for the ground tells an interesting story about the type of cricket it supports. Fixtures from August 2025 show a dense run of matches across several consecutive days, most of them 20-over games, with a few shorter 4-over contests mixed in. That pattern is typical of a local tournament weekend, where multiple teams are slotted into the same venue back to back.
Teams listed against the ground include local sides such as Ghaziabad Royal XI, along with visiting clubs from neighbouring districts, including a side from Muzaffarnagar and fixtures involving teams from the Meerut region. A recurring cup-style event, listed as the 7th Corona Cricket Cup, also appears among the fixtures, which suggests that the ground is used for repeat tournaments rather than one-off games.
In practical terms, that means Giriraj Cricket Ground suits:
- Weekend friendly matches between colony, office or college teams.
- Short-format tournaments run by local organisers, where each team plays a handful of T20-style games.
- Knockout cups where several sides from different towns gather for a single event.
- Practice sessions for teams that want a proper pitch and nets in the same trip.
Timings and Booking
Older business directory listings show the ground open every day from early morning to early evening, roughly 8 AM to 6 PM. However, floodlights are listed among its facilities, and tournament fixtures often stretch into the evening, so actual availability depends on the slot you arrange with the operator. Treat the directory timings as a general guide and confirm the real schedule directly.
To book a slot, the usual process is:
- Decide your format (20 overs, 10 overs, practice session) and the number of teams.
- Check availability on a cricket booking platform or contact the ground operator directly.
- Confirm the price, what is included (umpire, balls, scorer, lights) and the cancellation policy.
- Pay a booking amount if required and save the confirmation details.
- Arrive 20 to 30 minutes early for toss, warm-ups and kit setup.
Prices for grounds like this commonly vary by time of day, day of week and match length, with weekends and evening floodlit slots generally costing more. Because rates change, always ask for the current price instead of relying on an old figure.
An Important Status Check Before You Plan a Match
Here is something worth knowing before you gather eleven players and a full tournament budget. While several booking and discovery platforms continue to list the ground and show matches from 2025, at least one social media page associated with the venue is marked as permanently closed. This kind of mismatch happens often with local grounds: a page goes dormant, ownership changes, a ground is rebranded, or an old profile is simply never updated.
The sensible approach is simple. Call the contact number on the latest listing, ask about current availability, and request a recent photo or video of the pitch and outfield. If you are planning a tournament, a five-minute phone call can save you a lot of trouble.
How Giriraj Cricket Ground Compares With Other Grounds Nearby
The Mohan Nagar and Elevated Road belt has several cricket venues, and each serves a slightly different crowd.
| Ground | Area | What it is known for |
|---|---|---|
| Giriraj Cricket Ground | Near Elevated Road, Ghaziabad | Local tournaments, club fixtures and floodlit matches |
| Celebration Cricket Ground | Sanjay Colony, Mohan Nagar | Regular match bookings in multiple formats, from 10 to 40 overs |
| GMS Cricket Ground | Behind Raj Empire society, Loni Industrial Area | Another local-level option in the same belt |
| Old RPL Cricket Ground | Morti, Ghaziabad | Local ground on the outskirts side of the city |
| Mohan Meakins Cricket Stadium | Mohan Nagar | Historic venue established in 1971 with first-class pedigree |
The last entry deserves a special mention. Mohan Meakins Cricket Stadium, also known as Narendra Mohan Sports Stadium, is a very different kind of venue. It has hosted Ranji Trophy fixtures, including a Ranji final in the late 1970s, and matches of the 1997 Women’s Cricket World Cup. It is a heritage ground, whereas Giriraj Cricket Ground belongs to the newer wave of accessible, bookable grounds that serve everyday cricketers.
Who Should Choose This Ground?
- Corporate and office teams: The floodlit facilities and central location make after-work matches realistic.
- College and school alumni groups: Short-format games finish quickly, so you can fit a full match into one afternoon.
- Tournament organisers: The ground’s history of hosting multi-team events shows it can handle back-to-back fixtures.
- Serious club players: Practice nets let batters and bowlers work on specific skills before a match.
- Casual weekend players: If you simply want a proper pitch instead of a gully or a car park, a booked ground gives you the structure of real cricket.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Booking
- Inspect the pitch early. Ask the groundsman about the pitch condition and boundary size, since local grounds vary a lot.
- Bring your own spare kit. Even when balls are provided, extra gloves, a spare bat and a first-aid kit are worth carrying.
- Plan for the weather. Ghaziabad summers can be punishing in the afternoon, and winter evenings can bring fog and early darkness, so check the floodlight arrangement.
- Use a scoring app. Recording the match digitally turns a casual game into a stats record players love to revisit.
- Agree the rules beforehand. Overs per bowler, wide and no-ball rules, and powerplay restrictions should be decided before the toss.
- Arrive early and leave the place clean. Good habits keep local grounds available for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Giriraj Cricket Ground?
It is in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, near the Elevated Road in the Mohan Nagar and Raj Nagar Extension area.
What facilities does Giriraj Cricket Ground offer?
Listings mention umpires, scorers, practice nets, floodlights, balls, drinking water, washrooms and a pavilion or dugout.
What formats are played at the ground?
Recent listings show mostly 20-over matches along with shorter 4-over games, including cup-style tournament fixtures.
How is the ground rated by users?
Ratings differ by platform, with figures around 3.8 out of 5 on one site and around 4.2 on a cricket booking platform.
Is the ground open every day?
Older directory data suggests daily operation during daytime hours, but availability depends on your booked slot, so confirm directly.
Is Giriraj Cricket Ground the same as Mohan Meakins Cricket Stadium?
No. They are two separate venues in the same part of Ghaziabad. Mohan Meakins is a historic stadium with first-class and international women’s matches in its past, while Giriraj is a local ground for club and tournament cricket.
Can I book it for a corporate or tournament event?
Match history suggests it has hosted multi-team tournaments. Contact the operator to discuss dates, pricing and the number of teams you plan to bring.
What should I confirm before booking?
Check current availability, the price, whether umpires, balls and lights are included, and whether the ground is operating normally at the moment.
Conclusion
Giriraj Cricket Ground represents the kind of venue that keeps grassroots cricket alive in cities like Ghaziabad: easy to reach, equipped with the basics that matter and busy with local tournaments and club fixtures. It will not replace a stadium with a century of history, and it does not try to. What it offers instead is access, a place where a group of friends or a visiting club can play a full match without the red tape of a larger institution.
If you are planning a game there, verify the current operating status, confirm what your booking includes and share the exact location with your team. Do that, and you are set for a proper day of cricket on the Elevated Road side of Ghaziabad.
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