HOLKAR STADIUM - FROM CLUB GROUND TO A TEST CENTRE
In 1924 the foundation stone of the present Yeshwant Club was laid with a cricket ground covering the area from the Club’s Tennis Court to Janjirwala Square, including the present Indore Tennis Club and the Holkar Stadium.
In 1926, Maharaja Yeshwant Rao Holkar took the reign of the Holkar State and soon the construction of the club and the cricket ground was completed. This ground became the home venue of the Yeshwant Club and Central India Team consisting of players from Holkar State.
On this very venue Holkar batsmen had scripted the world record when 6 of its batsmen scored 100 (Ramesh Pratap Singh 100, MM Jagdale 164, CK Nayudu 101, BB Nimbalkar 172, Kamal Bhandarkar 142 & CT Sarwate 101) in a total of 912 runs against Mysore in a Ranji match played on 2nd – 6th March 1946. The venue was host to two Commonwealth teams, besides MCC and the West Indies under Sir, Frank Worrell.
For almost 5 decades since the formation of the Yeshwant Club, the ground, which had witnessed many historic cricket matches, faced the heat of transition and lost its original sheen. In 1984, the State Government gave the possession of the land to MPCA for its activities.
Then, in 1997-98, MPCA took the incomparable decision to start with the development of a cricket stadium on this land. Availability of funds, the most significant pre-requisite for any development, was a concern. The financial condition of State Cricket Associations was not so healthy during that period in comparison to what we observe today. In such scenario, constructing own stadium could have been easily termed as a distant dream. But this resolution of developing our own stadium pooled several MPCA members and many other people together and a pathway towards this distant dream started taking shape.
Step by step, brick by brick the edifice of the stadium was developed. Shaping up the pavilion block was the first priority and in 3 years the central portion of south pavilion was completed. Thereafter, the construction work of remaining pavilion block, lower and first tier of east and west stands, north end block took place and a compact sized cricket stadium in the heart of city came into existence. Significantly, the entire stadium was constructed without any loan / lien etc. North pavilion was constructed with a part donation from a corporate entity.
In 2006 MPCA was ready to host the first International match at this ground. Since then, the stadium has been host to 5 ODI (2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, and 2017), 2 Test (2016, 2019), and 2 T20 International (2017, 2020), besides 9 IPL matches. All matches played here, including the maiden Test, have attracted full house.
MPCA has proactively upgraded the stadium facilities to ensure all stakeholder of the game – players, spectators, organisers have a pleasant feeling when they are at the stadium. MPCA has christened Pavilions, Galleries and Main Entry Gates in names of former legends of Indian and local cricket.
Our efforts to upgrade the Stadium shall continue in coming years with projects like green energy (solar), waste management etc. in pipeline.
ICC PITCH & OUTFIELD RATING
| SERIES | DATE | MATCH TYPE | PITCH RATING | OUTFIELD RATING |
| IND - SL | 07 JAN. 2020 | T20 INT. | GOOD | VERY GOOD |
| IND-BAN | 14-18 NOV. 2019 | TEST | VERY GOOD | VERY GOOD |
| IND - SL | 22 DEC. 2017 | T20 INT. | VERY GOOD | VERY GOOD |
| IND - AUS | 24 SEPT. 2017 | ODI | GOOD | VERY GOOD |
Fact Sheet :
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TOTAL APPROX. COST OF HOLKAR STADIUM PROJECT EXCLUDING LAND COST |
As mentioned above, the stadium was constructed in different phases. The Gross Block value of the Stadium as on 31.3.2015 is approx. INR 44.26 crores. This does not include land cost. The land is given by State Government on a long term lease. |
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TOTAL SEAT CAPACITY OF HOLKAR STADIUM |
South Pavilion : G+4 Seating of approx. 7800 pax (bucket seats) + 10 enclosures for TV production / camera set-up / commentators box / live studio + 12 corporate boxes of 12 seats each + 2 boxes of 20 seats each (MPCA President box) + 1 AC box of 40 seats + 14 accommodation rooms North Pavilion : G+3 Seating of approx. 500 pax (bucket seats) + media centre to accommodate approx. 140 desks + media conference hall + Venue Operation Control box + one corporate box of 25 seats East Stand : G+2 : Seating of approx. 9250 pax, out of which approx. 1750 pax are on benches while 7500 are bucket seats West Stand : G+2 : Seating of approx. 9100 pax, out of which approx. 2000 pax are on benches while 7100 are bucket seats |
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YEAR OF COMPLETION / PRESENT STATUS: |
Till April 2006 (first ODI) : Approx. 75% complete Till November 2008 (second ODI) : Construction completed 100%, floodlights installed but not operational Till December 2011 (third ODI) : Complete in all aspects |
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IMPORTANT FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN YOUR STADIUM: |
General Capacity, specific utilities, common facilities 1. Seating capacity as described above 2. Total stadium entrances : 1 for players & match officials, VVIP etc, 2 for south pavilion, 2 for west stands, 1 for north stand and 1 for east stand. 3. Inside parking space : players busses 2 + approx 15 cars + 4 ambulances + 3 fire tenders + 10 DG mobile sets 4. 6 flood-light high masts with independent DG sets (250 KVA) interlinked through synchronisation panel system to ensure uninterrupted power supply even if upto 3 DG sets break down during match. 5. Venue Operations control area to accommodate upto 15 pax + CCTV monitoring system + PA system etc. 6. 2 manually operated score boards (permanent) + area for temporary erection of video screen / digital scoreboard 7. We erect temporary stalls for vending food during ODI. 8. Complete roof on south and north pavilion (tensile roofing system) and metal sheet roofing for east and west stands. 9. Centralised Fire-fighting system 10. 4 lifts (for south pavilion, out of which 1 is dedicated for TV crew, while 3 for common spectators) 11. 1 lift for north pavilion 12. Adequate gents urinals, gents WC and ladies WC 13. Automation system for water supply in South Pavilion Outfield, pitches, practice facilities 14. 70 yards boundary from centre pitch 15. Pitch block of 9 pitches 16. Practice pitches on out-field – 4 nos. 17. Outdoor practice arena with 6 strips and channel trackway based nets system 18. Water harvesting system for outfield 19. Rain-gun based irrigation system for outfield 20. Self supported water resources using 5 tube-wells Players & Match Officials area 21. Players dressing rooms (A/C) – 2 nos 22. Match officials retiring room (A/C) – 1 nos 23. Anti-doping enclosure (A/C) – 1 nos. 24. Anti-corruption back office (A/C) – 1 no. 25. Match Referee & Third Umpire (A/C) box – 1 no. TV production related facilities 26. TV production BCR rooms (A/C) – 2 nos 27. Storage area + dining area for crew 28. TV commentary box (A/C) – 2 nos 29. Live studio (A/C) – 1 nos. 30. Radio commentary box (A/C) – 1 no 31. Main cameraman (behind pitch) on both ends, high 45 position, mid wicket, stump camera etc. Media arrangements 32. Media Box with in-house communication centre / banquet area (A/C) : 140 desks 33. Media conference hall : Capacity of 50 chairs + photographer gallery 34. Dedicated entrance for media representatives Corporate Boxes & special enclosures 35. Corporate box (12 - 15 seats, A/C) : 12 nos with non-ac lounge for banquets 36. MPCA President Box (20 seats each, (A/C) : 2 nos. 37. AC enclosure for 40 seats : 1 nos. 38. Sponsors Box (25 seats each, (A/C) : 1 nos. 39. Conference Hall of capacity 150 pax (A/C) : 1 no Indoor practice, players gymnasium and recreation facilities. 40. Indoor practice arena with 3 stripes (A/C) : 1 nos 41. Players Gymnasium (A/C) : 1 no. 42. Members Gymnasium (A/C) : 1 no. 43. Billiards hall with 1 table (A/C) : 1 no. 44. Table Tennis hall with 2 tables : 1 no. Utilities used during routine operations 45. In-house kitchen and A/C cafeteria (domestic requirements) : 1 each 46. Accommodation rooms – 14 nos. 47. Players dormitory (with 9 beds each, (A/C) : 2 nos. |
Archive images can be seen - http://mpcaonline.com/gallary/view_gallery/47