Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium Explained

Ground Name:Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium
Country:India
Location:Dharamshala, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, India
Establishment:2003
Seating Capacity:21,200[1]
Owner:Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
Operator:Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association
Home Club:Himachal Pradesh cricket team
Himachal Pradesh women's cricket team
Tenants:Indian cricket teamPunjab Kings
End1:River End
End2:College End
International:true
Firsttestdate:25–29 March
Firsttestyear:2017
Firsttesthome:India
Firsttestaway:Australia
Lasttestdate:7–9 March
Lasttestyear:2024
Lasttesthome:India
Lasttestaway:England
Firstodidate:27 January
Firstodiyear:2013
Firstodihome:India
Firstodiaway:England
Lastodidate:28 October
Lastodiyear:2023
Lastodihome:New Zealand
Lastodiaway:Australia
Firstt20idate:2 October
Firstt20iyear:2015
Firstt20ihome:India
Firstt20iaway:South Africa
Lastt20idate:27 February
Lastt20iyear:2022
Lastt20ihome:India
Lastt20iaway:Sri Lanka
Firstwt20idate:22 March
Firstwt20iyear:2016
Firstwt20ihome:India
Firstwt20iaway:England
Lastwt20idate:24 March
Lastwt20iyear:2016
Lastwt20ihome:West Indies
Lastwt20iaway:England
Date:9 March
Year:2024
Source:[2]

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (abbreviated as the HPCA Stadium) is an international cricket stadium in Dharamshala hill station of Himachal Pradesh, India.[2]

The stadium is the home ground of Himachal Pradesh cricket team, Himachal Pradesh women's cricket team and headquarter of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, the governing body of cricket in Himachal Pradesh state.It hosted 5 matches of 2023 Cricket World Cup, including New Zealand v India.However the Stadium was accused of bad outfield and players played with potential risk of being injured.[3]

Location and history

thumb|left|400px|The snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the backgroundThe stadium served as the home ground for the Himachal Pradesh cricket team for Ranji Trophy matches and other domestic matches. The stadium also hosted some IPL matches as a home stadium for Punjab Kings.[4]

The picturesque venue is unique in India as it is situated at an altitude of 1,457 m above sea level and has snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the background. Getting to Dharamsala from the nearby Kangra Airport, which is about 8 kilometres away through the hilly terrain and the harsh winters, during which it rains and snows, is a deterrent to organizing regular matches.

Dav Whatmore, the former Director of the National Cricket Academy in India had recommended during his tenure that the stadium is suitable for hosting international cricket matches. The first international team who played in this ground was the Pakistani cricket team, when they played a warm-up match against an India A side in 2005.[4]

The first One Day International (ODI) at this stadium was played between India and England on 27 January 2013. England won the match by 7 wickets. The first Test at this stadium was played between India- Australia on 25–29 March 2017, India won the match.[5]

In November 2015, the stadium was selected as one of the six new Test match venues in India along with the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, JSCA International Stadium Complex, Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Holkar Stadium and Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.[6]

The venue has been used sporadically for IPL matches and due to its high altitude has a reputation for six hitting. Adam Gilchrist became the first player to score a century in the IPL at the HPCA stadium in 2011 against RCB, an innings that included a 122m six off Charl Langeveldt.[7]

ACC Centre of Excellence

In December 2015, Asian Cricket Council decided to set up Centre of Excellence at Dharamshala.[8]

2016 ICC World Twenty20

On 21 July 2015, the BCCI announced the names of the eight cities which would be hosting matches during the 2016 ICC World Twenty20. Dharamshala was announced as one of the eight venues for the event.[9] On 11 December 2015, ICC announced the fixtures of the event where the HPCA Stadium was scheduled to host all the first round Group A matches and a single Super 10 Group 2 match.[10] Originally the marquee India v Pakistan match was scheduled to be hosted by this venue.[11] Due to security concerns for the Pakistani team,[12] the match was moved to Eden Gardens, Kolkata.[13]

2023 ICC World Cup

ICC allocated 5 matches to the stadium, including New Zealand v India.[14] However the Stadium was accused of bad outfield and players played with potential risk of being injured.[15]

Records and statistics

List of centuries

Test Centuries

No. Score Player Team Balls Inns. Opposing team Date Result
1 111 173 1 Lost[16]
2 103 162 2 Won[17]
3 110 150

One Day Internationals

No. Score Player Team Balls Inns. Opposing team Date Result
1 113* 143 2 27 January 2013 Won[18]
2 127 114 1 Won[19]
3 112 103 2 Lost
4 140 107 1 Won[20]
5 130 127 1 Lost[21]

Twenty20 Internationals

No. Score Player Team Balls Inns. Opposing team Date Result
1 106 66 1 Lost[22]
2 103* 63 1 Won[23]

List of five wicket hauls

Tests

No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing TeamInnORWResult
1 2 34.1 92 5 Lost
2 1 15 72 5 Won
3 2 46.1 173 5 Lost
4 3 14 77 5 Won

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 - Media Guide . ICC . 19 November 2023.
  2. Web site: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium - Cricket Ground in Dharamsala, India . ESPNcricinfo .
  3. News: 2023-10-22 . India vs New Zealand: 'Poor' Dharamsala outfield back in focus as Indian players avoid diving . 2024-06-16 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  4. Web site: Dharamshala to be ready for IPL by April . 23 January 2012 . ESPNcricinfo.
  5. Web site: Dharamsala decider promises more surprises . 24 March 2017 . ESPNcricinfo . 25 March 2017.
  6. Web site: Arun Venugopal . BCCI revamps selection committee, announces new Test centres . ESPNcricinfo . 7 March 2016.
  7. Web site: 2023-03-12 . IPL Records HPCA Stadium . 2023-03-20 . T20 Head to Head . en-GB.
  8. Web site: ACC sets up Centre of Excellence in Dharamsala . ESPNcricinfo . 7 March 2016.
  9. Web site: Eden Gardens to host 2016 World T20 final . 21 July 2015 . 21 July 2015 . ESPNcricinfo.
  10. Web site: Fixtures for the ICC World Twenty20 India 2016 . ICC Cricket . 7 March 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160223080347/http://www.icc-cricket.com/world-t20/fixtures/men . 23 February 2016 . dmy-all .
  11. Web site: Dharamsala to host World T20 India-Pakistan . 11 December 2015 . ESPNcricinfo . 7 March 2016.
  12. Web site: Political tussle clouds India-Pakistan World T20 match . ESPNcricinfo . 1 March 2016 . 10 March 2016 . Gollapudi, Nagraj.
  13. Web site: India-Pakistan game moved to Kolkata . 9 March 2016 . ESPNcricinfo . 10 March 2016.
  14. Web site: Match schedule announced for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 . 27 June 2023 . ICC Cricket . 29 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230929044228/https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/3558110 . live .
  15. News: 2023-10-22 . India vs New Zealand: 'Poor' Dharamsala outfield back in focus as Indian players avoid diving . 2024-06-16 . The Times of India . 0971-8257.
  16. News: 4th Test: India v Australia at Dharamsala, 25-29 March, 2017. Cricket Scorecard . ESPNcricinfo. 2017-03-25.
  17. News: 5th Test, Dharamsala, March 7-11, 2024, England tour of India . ESPNcricinfo. 2024-03-09.
  18. News: 5th ODI: India v England at Dharamsala, Jan 27, 2013. Cricket Scorecard . ESPNcricinfo. 2016-10-31.
  19. News: 4th ODI: India v West Indies at Dharamsala, Oct 17, 2014. Cricket Scorecard . ESPNcricinfo. 2016-10-31.
  20. News: 7th Match, Dharamsala, October 10, 2023, ICC Cricket World Cup. Cricket Scorecard . ESPNcricinfo. 2023-10-15.
  21. News: 21st Match, Dharamsala, October 22, 2023, ICC Cricket World Cup. Cricket Scorecard . ESPNcricinfo. 2023-10-22.
  22. Web site: 1st T20I (N), South Africa tour of India at Dharamsala, Oct 2 2015. ESPNcricinfo. 24 August 2019.
  23. Web site: 12th Match, First Round Group A (N), World T20 at Dharamsala, Mar 13 2016. ESPNcricinfo. 24 August 2019.