Dharamshala is not just famous for its beautiful views but also its love for cricket. This place is known to have a cricket stadium, which is one of a kind to be built at such a height. The name of the stadium is Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, and today we are going to learn about this. In this blog, we are going to learn about the overview, boundary length, pitch report, stats, recent matches, records, and weather report of the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium.
Overview Of The Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is a stadium that is the home ground of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Team and the Himachal Pradesh Women’s cricket team. The stadium is located in Dharamshala, Kangra, Himachal Pradesh. The stadium is handled by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association. The first international match that happened here was in 2013. It hosted its first ever test match in 2017 from 25th to 29th March 2017. However, the stadium continuously hosts IPL matches and acts as a home stadium for Punjab Kings. The design of the stadium is based on the architectural designs of Tibet.
Details Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Here are a few details of the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium mentioned in the table below:
| Name Of the Stadium | Dharamshala Cricket Stadium |
| Established In | 2003 |
| Located In | Dharamshala, India |
| Seating Capacity | 23,000 |
| End Names | River End, College End |
| Floodlights | Yes |
| Home teams | Himachal Pradesh |
History Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium (HPCA Stadium)
Here are a few of the points that reflect the history of the stadium mentioned below:
- The Dharamshala Cricket Stadium was established in the year 2003. The main of the stadium is to promote cricket in the state of Himachal Pradesh.
- This became the home ground of the Himachal Pradesh cricket team since its establishment.
- The first-ever international match was held there on 27th January 2013 in the ODI format.
- In the year 2017, Dharamshala hosted its first-ever Test matches, and these happened between India and Australia.
- It has hosted major events like 2the 023 ICC World Cup and India Vs Pakistan T20I in 2016.
- This particular stadium is one of India’s most picturesque venues and a favourite among international teams.
Memorable Matches That Took Place In the Stadium
Have a look at the list of memorable matches that happened in the stadium:
India vs England (1st ODI) – January 27, 2013
First-ever international match at the stadium. In this match, England bowled India out for 226. They chased the target comfortably, winning by 7 wickets. Ian Bell (India’s first-ever international defeat at this venue).
India vs Australia (4th Test) – March 25-28, 2017
The significance of the match is that Dharamshala hosted its first-ever Test match. In this match, Australia posted 300 in the first innings. Then, India replied with 332, thanks to KL Rahul and Jadeja’s contributions. Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin dominated with the ball as India bowled out Australia for 137 in the second innings. Then, India won by 8 wickets, securing a historic series win. Ravindra Jadeja became the man of the match by scoring 63 runs and taking 4 wickets.
India vs South Africa (1st T20I) – October 2, 2015
This was a high-scoring T20I with thrilling performances. In the match, India scored 199/5, with Rohit Sharma smashing 106 off 66 balls. On the other hand, South Africa chased down the target, scoring 200/3 in 19.4 overs, powered by AB de Villiers’ 51 and JP Duminy’s unbeaten 68.
As a result, South Africa won by 7 wickets and JP Duminy became the man of the match.
India vs Pakistan (2016 ICC T20 World Cup – Canceled)
This was the most anticipated match of the 2016 T20 World Cup. But, due to security concerns and political tensions, the match was shifted to Kolkata at the last moment. The impact of the match was a huge disappointment for fans as a historic India-Pakistan match was supposed to be played in the scenic Dharamshala stadium.
Afghanistan vs England (2023 ICC ODI World Cup) – October 15, 2023
This was one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. The cricket team of Afghanistan batted first and scored 284, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 80. On the other hand, England collapsed to 215 all out, as Afghanistan’s spinners dominated. Hence, Afghanistan won by 69 runs, securing their first-ever World Cup win over a major team. In the end, Mujeeb Ur Rahman scored 40 runs and took 3 wickets.
India vs New Zealand (2023 ICC ODI World Cup) – October 22, 2023
This was one of the key World Cup clashes in Dharamshala in this stadium. New Zealand posted 273/10, with Daryl Mitchell scoring 130. On the other hand, India chased down the target at 274/6, thanks to Virat Kohli’s 95. After India won by 4 wickets, continuing their unbeaten run in the World Cup. From the Indian National Cricket Team, Mohammed Shami became the man of the match by taking 5 wickets in the match.
Boundary length of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Here is the boundary length of the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium mentioned in the table below:
| Side | Approximate Distance |
| Straight | 72 meters |
| Square | 68 meters |
| Fine Leg | 65 meters |
Pitch Report Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Here are the characteristics of the pitch report of the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium:
- Pitch Type: The pitch of the stadium is one of India’s first hybrid pitches. The pitch is fully designed and constructed, and supplied with SISGrass.
- Even Bounce: The pitch is known to have a bounce, which contributes to consistent playing conditions.
- Favourable Conditions: The Pitch is known to provide favourable conditions for the bowlers, especially given the cooler climate and higher altitude, which assists in swing and movement.
Weather Reports Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
The weather near the stadium is very unpredictable, which is why there are not many matches happening in the stadium. Here is the weather report of the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium and the temperature surrounding the area.
| Season | Temperature | Rainfall | Impact On Matches |
| Summer (April-June) | 15-30 degrees | Low | Good Batting Conditions |
| Monsoon (July-September) | 10-25 degrees | Heavy | Matches Often Interrupted |
| Winter (October-March) | 0-20 degrees | Moderate | Assists Fast Bowlers |
Seating Layout Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Here is the seating layout of the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium, where visitors can sit and enjoy the match:
- Capacity: The stadium holds the full capacity of 21,200 spectators. The stadium can host this number of people to enjoy the match of their favourite team.
- North Pavilion Stands: In this pavilion, they offer seating to VIP and corporate box seating. The media center is also located here to offer seating for the media.
- South Pavilion Stand: This section offers general seating with lower ticket prices. Those who cannot offer the north pavilion can go for this.
- East Stands: This section offers open-air seating with scenic views of the Dhauladhar mountains.
- West Stands: The stands covered seating with premium amenities for the visitors of the stadium.
Other than these, it offered Clubhouse stands, school boxes, and corporate boxes for the other facilities.
Records And Statistics Of Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Here is the list of the records which are made in the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium:
Centuries made in the Stadium
| Test Centuries | |||||||
| Date | Player | Team | Opposing team | Inns. | Balls | Score | Result |
| 25 March 2017 | Steve Smith | Australia | India | 1 | 173 | 111 | Lost |
| 7 March 2024 | Rohit Sharma | India | England | 2 | 162 | 103 | Won |
| One Day International | |||||||
| 27 January 2013 | Ian Bell | England | India | 2 | 143 | 113* | Won |
| 17 October 2014 | Virat Kohli | India | West Indies | 1 | 114 | 127 | Won |
| 17 October 2014 | Marlon Samuels | West Indies | India | 2 | 103 | 112 | Lost |
| 10 October 2023 | Dawid Malan | England | Bangladesh | 1 | 107 | 140 | Won |
| 22 October 2023 | Daryl Mitchell | New Zealand | India | 1 | 127 | 130 | Lost |
| 28 October 2023 | Travis Head | Australia | New Zealand | 1 | 67 | 109 | Won |
| 28 October 2023 | Rachin Ravindra | New Zealand | Australia | 2 | 89 | 116 | Lost |
Twenty20 International | |||||||
| 2 October 2015 | Rohit Sharma | India | South Africa | 1 | 66 | 106 | Lost |
| 13 March 2016 | Tamim Iqbal | Bangladesh | Oman | 1 | 63 | 103* | Won |
List Of Five-Wicket Hauls
| Bowler | Date | Team | Opposing Team | Inn | O | R | W | Result |
| Nathan Lyon | 25 March 2017 | Australia | India | 2 | 34.1 | 92 | 5 | Lost |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 7 March 2024 | India | England | 1 | 15 | 72 | 5 | Won |
| Shoaib Bashir | 7 March 2024 | England | India | 2 | 46.1 | 173 | 5 | Lost |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 7 March 2024 | India | England | 3 | 14 | 77 | 5 | Won |
Batting And Bowling Stats
| Format | Highest Score | Lowest Score | Best Bowling |
| Test Matches | India-332/10(2017) | Australia-137/10 (2017) | Nathon Lyon-5/92(2017) |
| ODIs | England-364/9(2023) | India-112/10(2023) | Kuldeep Yadav-5/25(2023) |
| T20s | India-199/5(2015) | South Africa-89/10(2023) | Axar Patel 3/15(2022) |
Steps To Book Your Tickets For Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
Here are the steps to know before booking online and offline tickets for the Dharamshala Cricket Stadium:
Online Tickets
Here are the steps to book your online and offline tickets for the Dharamshala cricket stadium:
- First, go to platforms like BookMyShow, Paytm Insider, or the BCCI website, depending upon the match organizer.
- Then, select the match scheduled at HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala, and book it.
- After this, select your preferred stands, for example, VIP Pavilion, General, or the students’ block.
- Make sure to check ticket prices and seat availability, because prices may vary depending on stand selection.
- Enter your details and pay via different UPI applications, debit/credit card, net banking, or wallet.
- Make sure to check if you receive the e-tickets in your mail and confirm them.
Offline Tickets
- First, visit the HPCA Stadium counter because tickets are available at the official box office.
- Some matches may require identity verifications, which you need to remember while booking.
- Then, after making the payment collect your tickets for the match.
- Make sure to book tickets a month prior or two to three days before the match schedule, to avoid any hustle.
Note: It is recommended for visitors to book tickets online so that they can avoid the last-minute rush before any major events.
How To Reach Dharamshala Cricket Stadium
The stadium is almost 1500 meters above sea level, which makes it one of the unique stadiums in the world:
By Plane
The nearby airport to the Dharamshala stadium is Kangra Airport, which is nearly around 15 kilometers away. It took only 20 to 40 minutes to reach the stadium from the airport. Hire a taxi or use hailing services that take you straight to the stadium.
By Bus
If you reach Dharamshala then you can take any bus that can easily drop you off at the stadium. Or you can also take a bus from Delhi or Chandigarh because these are the nearby states to Dharamshala. Then, from the bus stop, take a rickshaw or taxi to reach the stadium easily.
By Train
The nearby railway station to the stadium is Pathankot Railway Station, which is 17 kilometers away. You can take any train that reaches this station from anywhere and then hire a taxi that can drop you off at the stadium easily. A train is one of the easiest ways to travel from Pathankot or Dharamshala.
Upcoming Matches Are Going To Happen In The Stadium
Here is the list of the matches that will be going to happen in the coming time in the stadium
| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
| May 4, 2025 | Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants | 7:30 PM |
| May 8, 2025 | Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals | 7:30 PM |
| May 11, 2025 | Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians | 3:30 PM |
Conclusion
The stadium is known to be one of the important stadiums in the cricket world. As this holds significant matches in the past, which include national and international has also started and there are a few matches that are listed to happen in the stadium in the upcoming time. Dharamshala Cricket Stadium is one of the world’s first stadiums, which was built at such a height.
