The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium is a picturesque cricket stadium located in Dharamshala, India.
Abbreviated as the HPCA Stadium, the world-class venue has a seating capacity of 23,000 and is considered to be one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world.
Sitting 1457 meters above sea level, the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium staged its first One Day International (ODI) match between India and England in 2013. Since then, the stadium has hosted nine T20Is, five ODIs and one Test match so far.
Known for being the abode of spiritual leader Dalai Lama, Dharamshala has been the home ground for Himachal Pradesh cricket team. The HPCA stadium has also hosted several domestic matches including Ranji Trophy and few Indian T20 League matches.
Since the venue is located at a high altitude, the cricket ball travels quickly in Dharamshala. Furthermore, dew plays a massive role at this ground in the evening during the months of September to March. As a result, the toss-winning captains generally prefer to chase at this venue.
Dharamshala Cricket Stadium T20I records
Highest team total: South Africa cricket team hold the record for the highest team total at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. After India posted 199/5 in 2015 from their quota of 20 overs, the visitors rode on Jean-Paul Duminy’s unbeaten 34-ball 68 and AB de Villiers’ 51 to chase down the tricky target by scoring 200 in 19.4 overs. South Africa won the match by seven wickets.
Highest individual score: India’s Rohit Sharma boasts of the highest individual score at HPCA stadium in T20 cricket. The swashbuckling opening batter smashed a blitzkrieg hundred against South Africa in the first T20I in 2015. Rohit scored 106 off just 66 balls including 12 fours and five sixes to his name. The hosts, however, lost the match to go 0-1 behind in the T20I series.
Best bowling figures: Netherlands cricketer Paul Van Meekeran recorded the best bowling figures at this venue in the shortest format of the game. During a first-round Group A encounter in the 2016 edition of the ICC World T20, Meekeran picked four wickets for just 11 runs in his two overs against Ireland. The Netherlands won the rain-curtailed six-over a side match by 12 runs.
Most runs: India batter Tamim Iqbal has amassed the most runs at HPCA stadium in T20Is. The southpaw has scored 233 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 233. He scored one fifty at this venue besides a hundred as well at the stadium against Oman during the ICC World T20 in 2016.
Most wickets: Netherlands’ Paul Van Meekeran also holds the record for claiming the most wickets at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala. The right-arm pacer has bagged six wickets in three matches at an economy of just 4.66 at this venue. His best bowling figures of 4/11 came against Ireland in the ICC World T20 in 2016. Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan has six wickets at this venue as well but with an inferior average and economy when compared to the Dutchman.
Highest partnership: India’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have recorded the highest partnership at this beautiful venue in T20I cricket. Sharma and Kohli forged a 138-run stand for the second wicket against South Africa on October 2, 2015. The brilliant partnership helped the host post 199/5 in their 20 overs. However, the Proteas chased down the stiff target with seven wickets in hand, taking a 1-0 lead in the T20I series.
Indian T20 League records
Highest team total: Team Punjab posted the highest team total at this venue in the Indian T20 League. Electing to bat first, Punjab rode on captain Adam Gilchrist’s 55-ball 106 and Shaun Marsh’s 79 off just 49 balls to power their side to 232/2 against Bangalore in 2011. In reply, Bangalore were bowled out for just 121 as Punjab secured a massive 111-run victory.
Highest individual score: Australia legendary cricketer Adam Gilchrist holds the record for registering the highest individual score at HPCA Stadium in Indian T20 League. The hard-hitting batter smashed 106 runs off just 55 balls against a struggling Bangalore bowling attack during the 2011 edition of the Indian T20 League. Gilchrist’s scintillating hundred included eight fours and nine maximums.
Best bowling figures: Team Deccan leg-spinner Amit Mishra recorded the best bowling figures against Team Punjab at this ground in the Indian T20 League. During the 2011 edition of Indian T20 League, Mishra scalped four wickets for just nine runs in his quota of four overs to help his side claim a 82-run win. Mishra took the wickets of Ryan Mclaren, Mandeep Singh, Ryan Harris and Praveen Kumar.
Most runs: Former Punjab batter Shaun Marsh has scored the most runs at this venue in Indian T20 League history. The Australian left-handed batter has accumulated 334 runs in seven innings at an average of 66.80 while also maintaining a strike rate of 147.73.
Most wickets: India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has picked the most wickets at HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala in the Indian T20 League. Playing for Punjab, Kolkata and Chennai, the veteran cricketer has claimed 13 wickets in nine innings at an economy of 7.18 and an average of 18.23 at the venue.
Highest partnership: Team Punjab’s Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh hold the record for the highest partnership at this venue in Indian T20 League. Gilchrist (106) and Marsh (79) forged an impressive 206-run partnership for the second wicket to help Punjab post a mammoth 232/2 in 20 overs.
Featured photo: MONEY SHARMA / AFP
