Picturesque backdrop of the HPCA Stadium
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Ground information | |
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Location | Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh |
Establishment | 2003 |
Capacity | 23,000 |
Owner | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association |
Operator | Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association |
Tenants |
Indian cricket team Himachal Pradesh cricket team Kings XI Punjab |
End names | |
River End College End |
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International information | |
First Test | 25–29 March 2017: India v Australia |
First ODI | 27 January 2013: India v England |
Last ODI | 16 October 2016: India v New Zealand |
First T20I | 2 October 2015: India v South Africa |
Last T20I | 18 March 2016: Australia v New Zealand |
As of 25 March 2017 Source: ESPN Cricinfo |
Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, abbreviated as the HPCA Stadium, is a picturesque cricket stadium located in the city of Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh, India. The town of Dharamsala is best known internationally as the home of the Dalai Lama of Tibet.
The 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 Kings XI Punjab.
The picturesque venue is unique in India as it is situated at an altitude of 1,457 m above the sea level and has the snow-capped Himalayan mountains in the background. Getting to Dharamsala from the nearest airport in Gaggal, which is about 8 kilometres away through the hilly terrain and the harsh winters, during which it rains and snows are some of the deterrents in 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.
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 and Australia from 25–29 March 2017.