The HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala is set to offer a batting-friendly surface, aided by altitude and true bounce, making big scores a strong possibility in the 3rd T20I. The thin mountain air allows the ball to travel quickly, rewarding clean hitting and reducing the margin for error for bowlers, especially at the death.
In recent IPL matches at this venue, 180-plus totals have been common, with four of the five games since 2022 won by teams batting first, underlining the value of setting a target. The pitch generally starts hard and even, offering good pace on the ball in the first half, which suits stroke-makers and aggressive Powerplay batting.
For bowlers, new-ball seamers may find some carry and movement early, particularly under lights, but this assistance tends to fade quickly. Once the ball gets older, controlling length becomes crucial as short balls can sit up at altitude. Spinners are unlikely to get significant turn, though those who vary pace and use the larger square boundaries smartly can still be effective in the middle overs.
Dew could become a factor later in the evening, further tilting the contest towards batters and making defending totals challenging. Captains may therefore lean towards batting first if conditions are dry, but chasing remains viable if the ball comes on nicely.
Overall, expect a high-scoring contest where batting depth, smart death bowling, and clarity of roles will be decisive rather than excessive help from the surface itself.
HPCA Stadium Stats & Records
- Total Matches Played: 11
- Matches Won Batting First: 4
- Matches Won Bowling First (Chasing): 6
- No Result: 1
- Average 1st Innings Score: 137
- Average 2nd Innings Score: 128
- Highest Total Recorded: 200/3 by South Africa vs. India in 2015.
- Lowest Total Recorded: 134/9 by Australia vs. New Zealand in 2016.
- Highest Successful Chase: 200/3 by South Africa vs. India in 2015, which remains a significant record for the venue.
- Lowest Total Defended: 59/5 by Netherlands vs. Ireland in a rain-affected six-over match in 2016.