How did India fare in the only test match they played at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala?

India have played only one test match at the HPCA stadium, Dharamsala so far.

After securing the five-match test series against England in Ranchi, Team India’s caravan moves to the Himalayas for the final test of the series. The fifth and final test between India and England will be played at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. HPCA stadium hosted its first and only test in March 2017 between India and Australia.

India have already secured the ongoing five-match test series against England and took an unassailable lead of 3-1 in the series. England started the series on a winning note in Hyderabad, but the hosts bounced back nicely to thrash the visitors in next three games in Vishakapatnam, Rajkot and Ranchi. India are in a comfortable position ahead of the final test and will look to win the final test to register a dominant 4-1 victory.

India vs Australia in Dharamshala, 2017

Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium is one of the tier two test stadiums in India. HPCA Stadium hosted a number of ODI and T20I encounters, but only one test match has been played so far. India hosted Australia in fourth of the four-match test series in 2017. In the Border-Gavaskar clash, Australia captain Steve Smith won the toss and elected to bat first against the hosts, led by Ajinkya Rahane in absence of injured Virat Kohli. Smith went on to play a captain’s knock and hit a hundred. Smith scored 111 runs in the first innings.

For the hosts, Kuldeep Yadav made his debut and picked four wickets in the first innings. Kuldeep’s four-wicket haul helped the hosts restrict the visitors for 300. In reply, the hosts scored 332 runs and took a crucial lead of 32 runs. Ravindra Jadeja was top-scorer for the hosts with 63 runs. KL Rahul (60) and Cheteshwar Pujara (57) also contributed immensely to the total.

Australia succumbed under pressure and they were bundled out for just 137 runs in second innings. Ashwin and Jadeja rattled Australian batting order to restrict Australia at a lead of 105 runs and set themselves a modest target of 106. Captain Ajinkya Rahane’s quick-fire 38 helped the hosts win the game by eight wickets and also the series 2-1.

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