Assam Cricket Association Stadium, popularly known as Barsapara Cricket Stadium and officially named Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium, is a cricket stadium in the Barsapara area of Guwahati, Assam, India. It is the largest sports stadium in Northeast India and serves as the home ground of the Assam cricket team.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Location | Barsapara, Guwahati, Assam |
| Construction began | 2006 |
| First match (domestic) | 4 November 2012 |
| Officially inaugurated | 10 October 2017 |
| Capacity | 40,000–46,000, extendable up to 55,000–60,000 (sources vary) |
| Owner/Operator | Assam Cricket Association |
| First international match | 10 October 2017, T20I, India vs Australia |
| First ODI | 21 October 2018, India vs West Indies |
History
The Assam government allocated 59 bighas of land for the project, transforming what had previously been a dumping ground into a modern sporting venue. Construction began around 2006 under the Assam Cricket Association, with the first match at the venue — a women’s one-day fixture between Assam and Odisha — played on 4 November 2012. The stadium subsequently hosted several Ranji Trophy matches during the 2013–14 season.
It was officially inaugurated on 10 October 2017 by then Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, becoming India’s 49th international cricket venue. The inaugural international fixture, a T20I between India and Australia (won by Australia), drew a reported attendance of over 38,000. The stadium is officially named after Dr. Bhupen Hazarika, the celebrated Assamese singer, composer, and filmmaker, honouring his cultural legacy following his death in 2011.
The venue entered IPL rotation in April 2023, when Rajasthan Royals adopted it as a second home ground, helping expand the league’s presence into Northeast India.
Notable Events
- March 2019 – Hosted its first women’s international cricket, a three-match T20I series between India and England.
- October 2022 – India’s 237/3 against South Africa remains the highest total recorded at the venue in ODI cricket, with contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma.
- 2023 onward – Regular host venue for Rajasthan Royals IPL matches, with Assam-born player Riyan Parag a fan favourite at the ground.
Records
- Highest ODI total: 237/3, India vs South Africa (2022).
- Highest IPL total: 199/4, Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals (2023).
- Highest ODI partnership: 174* (unbroken), Quinton de Kock and David Miller for South Africa vs India (2022).
- Highest IPL partnership: 98, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler for Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals (2023).
Facilities
The stadium features steeply rising, largely covered galleries, indoor practice facilities, a gymnasium, and a media centre, along with floodlights for day-night matches.
Access
Barsapara Cricket Stadium is located roughly 20 km from Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport and is well connected to central Guwahati by road and public transport.
Related Stadiums
- JSCA Stadium, Ranchi — another relatively new eastern India venue.
- Barabati Stadium, Cuttack — a fellow eastern Indian international cricket ground.
- Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur — another venue serving as a second IPL home ground for a franchise.
- Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar — like Barsapara, expanded India’s cricket footprint into a less-represented region.
