HPCA Stadium records: Most runs, wickets and more

Situated in the city of Dharamshala, the HPCA Stadium is known for its picturesque views amidst the backdrop of the gorgeous snow-capped Himalayan mountains. As one of the venues hosting matches in the ODI World Cup 2023, we look at all the HPCA Stadium records, breaking down the most runs scored, most wickets, and more.

HPCA Stadium records

As the highest cricket ground in the world, the HPCA Stadium serves as the home ground for the Himachal Pradesh cricket team for Ranji Trophy matches and other domestic matches. The stadium is one of the newest stadiums in the country which can house roughly around 23,000 spectators. 

Known for its openness and small-sized stands, this facility allows for winds to sweep across, giving fast bowlers assistance in the air. With the expansion of IPL from 2010 onwards, HPCA Stadium became a popular destination to host the IPL games. 

Most recent match at the HPCA Stadium

Before we look at all the latest HPCA Stadium records, let’s find out what happened when two sides last clashed with one another at this venue.

In the 7th match of the 2023 Cricket World Cup, England and Bangladesh squared off at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. England were coming into the game off the back of a shock loss to New Zealand in the opening fixture of the tournament, while Bangladesh had grabbed a solid victory over Afghanistan in their first match.

England stepped out to bat first, and boy did they make the most of it. The English absolutely plundered the runs, as many expected they would against New Zealand but failed to. Jonny Bairstow and Dawid Malan got England off the a fast start, with Bairstow making a 59-ball 52 runs, while Malan was the big scorer, bringing up a huge 140 from just 107 balls. After Bairstow fell, Joe Root came in and made a brisk 82 off 68 balls, before a handful of rapid cameos from the English middle and lower order saw a total of 364/9 made in 50 overs.

In response, Bangladesh were largely woeful. Litton Das managed to hold his head high, making 76 from 66 at the top of the order, but at the other end, the wickets tumbled. Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Shanto, Shakib Al Hasan and Mehidy Miraz were all back in the shed within the first 10 overs, leaving the Bangladeshi middle order with a tall task that they ultimately weren't up for. Reece Topley took an impressive four wickets at an economy of 4.30 from his 10 overs, scuttling Bangladesh for 227, 10 balls short of the full 50 overs.

HPCA Stadium records

Here is a run-down of some of the eye-catching stats posted here at the HPCA Stadium spanning all formats:

– Steve Smith recorded the highest individual test score of 111 in 173 balls at the venue when Australia toured India in 2017.

– Adam Gilchrist registered the highest individual IPL score of 106 (55) for Kings Xl Punjab against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2011. 

– Virat Kohli posted the highest individual ODI score of 127 (114) against West Indies at this venue in 2014

Here’s a detailed look at some of the specific HPCA Stadium records, based on T20, ODI, and Test performances.

ODI records at the HPCA Stadium

The HPCA Stadium has hosted a limited number of ODIs to date. The venue has predominately been the prime venue for several IPL games. With very few ODIs being played, here’s a snapshot of all the most important ODI records of the HPCA Stadium:

Total matches6
Matches won batting first2
Matches won bowling first4
Average 1st Inns scores202
Highest total recorded364/9 (50 Ov) by ENG vs BAN
Lowest total recorded112/10 (38.2 Ov) by IND vs SL
Highest score chased227/3 (47.2 Ov) by ENG vs IND

Looking at these HPCA Stadium records in ODIs, the pitch overall favors the team batting second as chasing has proven to be the most fruitful approach – with the exception of the most recent match, of course. There are some favourable bowling conditions on offer which the bowlers can exploit but once the batters get their eye in, big totals can also be posted. 

T20I records at the HPCA Stadium

The HPCA Stadium has hosted a plenty of IPL games and other T20Is that have entertained the fans in the past decade. Here’s a rundown of all the most important T20I records:

Total matches11
Matches won batting first4
Matches won bowling first6
Average 1st innings score137
Average 2nd innings score128
Highest total recorded200/3 (19.4 Ov) by RSA vs IND
Lowest total recorded47/7 (6 Ov) by IRE vs NED
Highest score chased200/3 (19.4 Ov) by RSA vs IND
Lowest score defended59/5 (6 Ov) by NED vs IRE

Although the average first innings score appears to be on the lower side, the HPCA Stadium has seen some high-scoring thrillers that have gone down the wire. Most notably, South Africa’s epic run chase of 200 in 2015 T20I series against India holds a place in the HPCA Stadium records book.

Test match records at the HPCA Stadium

The HPCA Stadium has only hosted one test match between India and Australia back in 2017. Here’s a rundown of all the most important HPCA Stadium test records from the one-off test match:

Total matches1
Matches won batting first0
Matches won bowling first1
Average 1st innings score300
Average 2nd innings score322
Average 3rd innings score137
Average 4th innings score106
Highest total recorded332/10 (118.1 Ov) by IND vs AUS
Lowest total recorded137/10 (53.5 Ov) by AUS vs IND

With just one game has been played at this venue, it would be wrong to draw any premature conclusions. However, by looking at the average score per innings, we can notice a sharp decline from 300 to 106 which shows that batting can get progressively difficult as the day goes on.

Understanding the HPCA Stadium

Now we are done reviewing the key statistics of the HPCA Stadium, let's try to dissect the pitch and the ground conditions in more detail.

Pitch and ground conditions

With regards to the shortest format of the game, the deck at HPCA Stadium is relatively flat and can offer a lot of runs for teams batting first. Any team would want to bat first and put 170+ on board. Spinners may play their part in the middle overs to stem the flow of runs. However, in recent times, chasing at this venue has been a little tricky as the pitch helps the quick-pace bowlers. Since the ground is situated at a high altitude, bowlers can leverage the breeze to wreak havoc on the batsmen.

With respect to the longer format of the game, the pitch stays firm and true during the first two days of the test match where the ball comes onto the bat nicely. However, it doesn’t take long for the surface to deteriorate and by the fourth and fifth day of the test match, the ball starts turning square. 

Typical weather conditions

Sitting at 1457 meters above sea level, the weather in Dharamshala is typically very chilly and can get very windy. The majority of cricket is only played during the summertime when the conditions are favorable. The harsh winters, during which it rains and snows, can be deterrents to organizing international matches. In addition, the dew becomes a major factor in the evening if you're playing during the September-March period. That's the reason why the HPCA Stadium records show that teams prefer to chase at this venue. 

During winter time, temperatures drop to below 0 C and the snow descends on the entire stadium. The HPCA Stadium is the first venue in India to use winter rye grass scattered around the outfield, which prevents the grass from dying when temperatures fall below 10 degrees.

Ground dimensions

The HPCA Stadium is known to have bigger boundaries than the usual ground in India. Here’s a look at the average dimensions that are subject to change:

Straight boundaries: Approximately 68 meters 

Square boundaries: Approximately 63 meters

Cover region: Varies, offering a substantial playing area for fielders and opportunities for strategic placements by batsmen

Fine leg: Varies, providing space for fielders to patrol and bowlers to target

Third man: Varies, offering additional dimensions for fielding and bowling tactics

The HPCA Stadium has one of the bounciest pitches in the country, with a decent amount of grass cover. The ground dimensions exceed the minimum requirement of 65 yards (59.43 m) on either side of the pitch.  

HPCA Stadium and the 2023 ODI World Cup

The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala will host five games of ODI WC 2023 starting from October 7. Teams such as Bangladesh, and New Zealand will play two games at this venue, while other teams like Australia, South Africa, England, Netherlands, and Afghanistan also have a game at this venue. 

As the World Cup is now underway, the attention of all the fans has turned to this venue, which not only has the potential to offer breathtaking views but also some quality cricketing entertainment, with some HPCA Stadium records bound to be broken over the coming months.

Bren GrayBren Gray

Bren is our resident Kiwi, and has been playing or watching sports down under in New Zealand for the better part of three decades. With 12+ years' experience as a professional writer, Bren loves to dive deep into all things cricket to bring the best betting analysis, predictions and news here at CricNerds.com.

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