Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, commonly known as HPCA Stadium or Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, is an international cricket stadium located in the hill town of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India. It is widely regarded as one of the most scenic cricket grounds in the world, set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Dhauladhar range of the Himalayas.
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Quick Facts
| Location | Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh |
| Established | Early-to-mid 2000s (sources cite 2003) |
| Capacity | Approximately 23,000–25,000 |
| Altitude | Around 1,317–1,457 metres above sea level |
| Owner/Operator | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (also its headquarters) |
| Home team(s) | Himachal Pradesh cricket team, Himachal Pradesh women’s team |
| First international match | 2005, warm-up match, Pakistan vs India A |
| First ODI | 27 January 2013, India vs England |
History
The HPCA Stadium is unique among Indian venues for its high-altitude setting, making it one of the highest cricket grounds in the world, behind only stadiums in Johannesburg, Nairobi, and Harare. The ground’s openness and relatively small stands allow wind to sweep across the field, giving fast bowlers extra assistance, while the venue was the first in India to use winter rye grass on its outfield to keep the grass alive during the region’s cold winters.
The first international team to play here was Pakistan, in a 2005 warm-up match against an Indian Board President’s XI. Harsh winters — bringing rain and occasional snow — have historically limited the number of matches the ground can host each year, but it went on to stage its first full ODI in January 2013 between India and England.
The venue gained wider recognition after the 2010 expansion of the IPL brought it into the tournament rotation, and it has since hosted matches for teams including Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings).
Notable Events
- 2017 – HPCA Stadium hosted its first Test match, between India and Australia.
- 2023 Cricket World Cup – The stadium hosted five matches, including a fixture between New Zealand and India, though it also drew criticism over outfield conditions.
- Rohit Sharma scored his first T20I century here, 106 against South Africa in 2015.
Records
- Highest Test total: 388, Australia vs New Zealand.
- Lowest Test total: 112, India vs Sri Lanka.
- Best individual Test score: 140, Dawid Malan (England vs Bangladesh).
- Best bowling figures: 5/54, Mohammed Shami (India vs New Zealand).
- Highest IPL total: 232/2, Punjab Kings (formerly Kings XI Punjab), featuring a century from Adam Gilchrist.
Facilities and Layout
The stadium features Tibetan-influenced architectural touches reflecting Dharamshala’s status as home to the Tibetan government-in-exile and the Dalai Lama. Its ends are named the River End and College End.
Access
The ground is around 8 km from Kangra Airport and roughly 10 km from Dharamshala’s city centre; the hilly terrain and seasonal weather can affect travel and match scheduling.
Related Stadiums
- I. S. Bindra Stadium, Mohali — the nearest major North Zone international venue.
- Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Mullanpur — Punjab’s newest international cricket stadium.
- JSCA Stadium, Ranchi — another relatively recent Indian Test venue.
- Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, Srinagar — another Himalayan-region cricket ground.
