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General Information 

The Feroz Shah Kotla is a cricket ground in Delhi, India. The first match was played here on November 10, 1948. Anil Kumble took 10 wickets in an innings on this ground in 1999, only the second time this feat has been achieved in test cricket. It underwent renovations in 2005.

Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA), Feroz Shah Kotla ground, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi - 110002 (Phone: 011 2331 9323)

The 13 meter high sandstone obelisk with Ashoka’s edict stands a testimony to the history of this old city in ruins which has seen Hindu and Muslim rulers over years. The ruins of Ferozabad, the 5th city of Delhi, erected by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in 1354 can be found at Feroz Shah Kotla, just off Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg between the Old and New Delhi. The remains of a mosque and a well can also be seen, but most of the ruins were used for the construction of later cities. Feroz Shah was a great builder and so, this fifth city of Delhi was full of splendid palaces, mosques and gardens. The Tughlaqabad area was woefully short of water and this made the Tomars move westward to Mehrauli. Firoz Shah, Muhammad Tughlaq’s successor solved this problem by building his new city on the banks of Yamuna. Kotla was the inner citadel of Firozabad, built like Windsor, with great palaces and a magnificent mosque inspiring Timur’s envy. Destroyed by the Mughals, Kotla palaces were reduced to mere ruins, exposing to view the subterranean passages and covered cloisters. One can still see the pyramidal structure topped by the Ashokan Pillar brought from Topra, and a three tiered baoli. Timur’s invasion of Delhi reduced the city to a city of ruins as he took away with him elephants loaded with treasures and costly building material, artists, masons and skilled workmen as prisoners. The Saiyyads and Lodis used Kotla as their citadel.