The 3rd BGT Test shifted to Indore’s Holkar Stadium from Dharamshala due to outfield issues

The Holkar Stadium in Indore is one of the smallest international stadiums in the world. It hosted its last Test match in 2019 between India and Bangladesh.


The 3rd BGT Test shifted to Indore’s Holkar Stadium from Dharamshala due to outfield issues

Holkar Stadium

The third Test match of the Border Gavaskar Trophy series, which was originally slated to take place at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala, has been shifted to Indore’s Holkar Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the same on Monday.

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The third Test of the Australia Tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, originally scheduled to take place at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala, from 1st to 5th March, has now been moved to Holkar Stadium, Indore,” the BCCI said.

BCCI said that the outfield in the stadium has not been readied yet, and also harsh winter condition is another reason for shifting the match. “Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully,” BCCI added.

The picturesque stadium against the backdrop of the Dhauladhar mountain range has hosted just one Test match. It was a match between the same two teams, in the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy when the host won the series by 2-1.

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Ravichandran Ashwin is the most successful bowler at the Holkar Stadium

Holkar Stadium
Ravichandran Ashwin

The HPCA Stadium decided to install another drainage system and relay the outfield after the twin T20Is against Sri Lanka last year in February. After the pitch and outfield are relaid, matches are played at the stadium, which hasn’t happened so far yet.

Himachal Pradesh’s Ranji Trophy team played their home matches at Nadaun’s Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, which is approximately 60 kilometers away from Dharamshala. The HPCA Stadium has hosted 16 limited-overs matches, and the last one was played a year ago.

The Holkar Stadium in Indore is one of the smallest international stadiums in the world. It hosted its last Test match in 2019 between India and Bangladesh. These are the only two Tests played at the stadium. India have a dominating record, as they have lost just one match across all formats at the venue.

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India’s star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is the most successful bowler at the Holkar Stadium, as he scalped 13 wickets in a Test match against New Zealand in 2016 (the first time the stadium was used for a Test match).

India have wrapped up the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in three days by defeating the visitors by an innings and 132 runs. The second Test is scheduled to take place on February 17 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

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