Sports
Mohali Stadium | Punjab Cricket Association
Every cricket lover from different parts of the world will definitely remember the matches played at the Mohali stadium. This article covers everything about Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, where many iconic cricket matches have taken place. Read the full article to know its history of it and the notable events which took place in this stadium. Besides, you will know the reasons why it is a famous tourist attraction in Mohali.
Punjab Cricket Association
The Punjab Cricket Association takes care of the development and cricket organization in the Punjab State and Chandigarh. It is the governing body for cricket in Punjab and Chandigarh.
Earlier, all the meetings and operations used to take place from the residences of the office bearers of the Punjab Cricket Association. After 1992, the PCA Mohali Stadium was built, which has all the top facilities of the International level.
PCA runs and manages the coaching and other activities related to Cricket in important districts of Amritsar, Ludhiana, Mohali and Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Patiala, and other districts like Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Sangrur, Muktsar, Faridkot, Nawanshahar, Kapurthala.
Inderjit Singh Bindra Stadium
Today known as the PCA Stadium, or the Mohali Stadium, it was re-named Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in 2015 after Inderjit Singh Bindra. He was a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.
Inderjit Singh Bindra was linked with the cricket administration since 1975 and was the President of BCCI from 1993 – 1996. He was the President of the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium for around 30 years, from 1978 – 2014, and then became the Chairman of the Punjab Cricket Association in 2015.
Inderjit Singh Bindra was also the advisor while forming the Indian Premier League (IPL). Moreover, he was then the Principal Advisor of the International Cricket Council (ICC) too.
About Mohali Stadium
The Punjab Cricket Association Stadium is popularly known to have a huge cricket ground which is situated in Mohali, Punjab. It was built in 1993, and the stadium took about 3 years for the whole construction process to complete.
The cost to build this stadium was INR 25 crores. Geetanshu Klara from Ambala city is the man behind the construction of this stadium. This stadium in Mohali can accommodate around 26,950 spectators and has a playing area of 170000 sq. ft.
There are 600 AC lounges, 5300 VIP Block, 5000 Student Block, 5400 Members Block, 2600 Pavilion Terrace, 9289 Chair Block, and 495 North Pavilion in the stadium. The Media Box Capacity of the stadium is 120, and the Media Conference Hall Capacity is 150.
Ar. Khizr and his associates did the designing of the stadium, which is a popular construction company in Chandigarh. The R.S. Construction Company did the construction of the stadium, and today the stadium is the home ground to the Punjab Cricket team and Punjab Kings (PBKS) of IPL (Indian Premier League).
There are 16 floodlights in this stadium which are very low in height. Usually, in other cricket stadiums, the light pillars are placed higher. But to avoid aircraft collisions from the nearby Chandigarh airport with the light pillars, the floodlights in Mohali are placed lower. In a nutshell, the construction of the stadium is done very thoughtfully.
Interestingly, the stadium has special stands named after iconic Indian cricketers Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. The stands were inaugurated by the current Punjab chief minister, Shri Bhagwant Mann, on 20th September 2022.
Pitch of the PCA Stadium
The pitch of the Mohali stadium is one of the greenest, and the area of the playing field is at a distance from the batsman, i.e., the outfield has lush green grass. Daljit Singh, a former cricketer and a pitch curator is the current pitch curator of the Mohali stadium.
It is a great pitch for the fast bowlers as the ball maintains its shine for a longer period and gives the bowlers an advantage. But as the match continues, the pitch slows down later. Therefore the pitch is more of an advantage for the pace bowlers, spinners, and the batsman as well.
Punjab Cricket Association Club Facilities
There are many amenities available at Punjab Cricket Club, which are chargeable. Some of the things a member will find there is a Health Club, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, Banquet Hall, and Residential Accommodation. The options for residential accommodations are not at all limited; from super deluxe to suite rooms, there are many.
To avail of all of the facilities, check out the list of membership rates.
| Type of Membership | Entrance Fee | Annual Subscription |
|
PCA Associate Membership |
30,000/-(Tax extra as applicable) |
NIL |
|
Town Membership |
1,70,000/-(Tax extra as applicable) |
3,600/- |
|
Country Membership |
1,70,000/-(Tax extra as applicable) |
3,600/- |
|
Over 65 Years |
1,70,000/-(Tax extra as applicable) |
1,800/- |
|
Cricket Member |
20,000/-(Tax extra as applicable) |
3,600/- |
The registration fee of Rs. 2000 plus extra tax and not refundable application will be accepted. Also, to have a club membership, every person should be an associate member. As far as a Life Membership, the person is required to be a part of the Association. You can get more information about the Club facilities and their rates on the official website of the Punjab Cricket Association.
Matches that took place in Mohali Stadium
Mohali Stadium was inaugurated on 22 December 1993, and the first test match between India and West Indies took place in this stadium on that day. After which, a string of matches happened one after another.
The Cricket World Cup semi-final between Australia and the West Indies, which is one of the most famous and exciting matches, took place in this stadium in February 1996.
Mohali stadium hosted 3 world cup matches in 2011, which includes the famous and thrilling match between India and Pakistan, which was on 30 March 2011. The former Prime Minister of India – Manmohan Singh, and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan – Yusuf Raza Gillani, also attended the match. India was the winner of this match.
The First Test of the Freedom Trophy between India and South Africa in 2015 took place in this stadium. India was the winner of the match with a very huge margin. The spinners in the Indian team performed well and had an advantage because of the pitch.
The South African batsmen were having trouble making runs and playing their shots. It was the first time in this stadium that spinners got an advantage because of the pitch, which happened during the match.
The first T20 Internationals between India and Sri Lanka in 2009 were also hosted in Mohali stadium. India was the winner of this match and won by 6 wickets.
World Cup Matches in Mohali Stadium
The stadium has hosted a total of 4 world cup matches. The 1996 Cricket World Cup semi-finals between Australia and West Indies where Australia won by 5 runs.The 2011 Cricket World Cup on 3rd March between South Africa and the Netherlands, where South Africa won by 231 runs.
The 2011 Cricket World Cup on 11 March between West Indies and Ireland, where West Indies won by 44 runs. The 2011 Cricket World Cup on 30 March between India and Pakistan, where India won by 29 runs.
T20 Matches in Mohali Stadium
The Mohali stadium also hosted 3 T20 matches of the ICC World Twenty20 in 2016. The first match was between New Zealand and Pakistan on 22 March, where New Zealand won by 22 runs.
The second match was between Australia and Pakistan on 25 March, where Australia won by 21 runs. The third match was between Australia and India on 27 March, where India won by 6 wickets.
Some of the Notable Records made in Mohali Stadium
Test Records
16 October 2003, Match between New Zealand and India
Highest Test Total: 630/6d
14 March 2003, Match between India and Australia
Highest Individual Score by Shikhar Dhawan: 187
10 0ctober 1999, Match between India and New Zealand
Best Test Innings Bowling Figures: 6/27 – Dion Nash
Sachin Tendulkar scored the most Test runs -767
Second Highest – Rahul Dravid (735)
Third Highest – Virender Sehwag (645)
Anil Kumble took the most wickets – 36
Second Highest – Harbhajan Singh (24)
Third Highest – Ravindra Jadeja (18)
ODI Records
13 December 2017, Match between India and Sri Lanka
Highest ODI Total: 393/3
13 December 2017, Match between India and Sri Lanka
Highest Individual Score, Rohit Sharma: 208
27 October 2006, ICC Champions Trophy between South Africa and Pakistan
Best ODI Innings Bowling Figures – Makhaya Ntini (5/21)
3 March 2011, Match between South Africa and the Netherlands
Highest ODI Partnership: 221 by Hashim Amla & AB De Villiers.
Harbhajan Singh took the most wickets – 11
Second Highest: Glenn McGrath (8), Saqlain Mushtaq (8)
Twenty20 International Records
12 December 2009, Match between India and Sri Lanka
Highest Twenty20 Total: 211/4
27 March 2016, Match between India and Australia
Highest Individual Twenty20 Score: Virat Kohli (82)
25 March 2016, Match between Australia and Pakistan
Best Twenty20 Innings Bowling Figures: James Faulkner (5/27)
12 December 2009, Match between Sri Lanka and India
Highest Twenty20 Partnership: Sanath Jayasuriya & Kumar Sangakkara (81)
Virat Kohli scored the most runs – 154
Second Highest – Yuvraj Singh (81)
Third Highest – Martin Guptill (80)
James Faulkner took the most wickets – 6
Second Highest – Yuvraj Singh (4)
Third Highest – Hardik Pandya (3)
Address and Contact Details of Mohali Stadium
Punjab Cricket Association
I.S. Bindra Stadium, Sector-63,
SAS Nagar, Mohali – 160 062
Contact: 0172-2232300/01/02
Email: [email protected]
Website: cricketpunjab.in
Conclusion
Mohali is famous for its Punjab Cricket Association Stadium or Mohali Stadium. The stadium is among the top 10 tourist attractions in Mohali. If you are a cricket lover, you must visit this place. The plus point is Mohali stadium’s prime location. Mohali Walk Mall, Fortis Hospital, Bestech Square Mall, PUDA Bhawan, and many more fall in the vicinity of the PCA stadium.
South African off-spinner Simon Harmer has turned Test cricket in India completely upside down. During the second Test in Guwahati, he outbowled renowned Indian spinners like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar on their home ground. Moreover, his exceptional bowling revealed surprising gaps in India’s spin-bowling strategy and selection.
Harmer’s Exceptional Bowling Display: Throughout the series, Harmer has looked like the most threatening spinner on either side. On a spinning Kolkata pitch, he appeared unplayable with square turn and uneven bounce. Furthermore, on the flat red-soil surface in Guwahati, he operated at a completely different level compared to other spinners.
Harmer demonstrated remarkable versatility in his bowling speeds. He bowled at 92 kilometers per hour to hurry batters’ responses when the pitch behaved unpredictably. Additionally, he slowed down to 78 kilometers per hour, floating the ball above the batters’ eyeline and scrambling their judgment of line and length.
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South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad explained why his spinners performed better in these conditions. He stated that South African spinners don’t usually bowl on spin-friendly surfaces at home. Therefore, they develop a stronger defensive game and learn to bowl with more guile and variation.
In contrast, Indian spinners typically bowl on pitches that turn sharply from early on. Consequently, they bowl faster because the ball reacts more quickly on such surfaces. However, this habit may have limited their ability to adapt to flatter pitches.
Statistics revealed this difference clearly. During India’s first innings, Harmer and Keshav Maharaj bowled at an average speed of around 83 kilometers per hour. Meanwhile, their slowest deliveries clocked around 77 kilometers per hour. On the other hand, Jadeja and Washington bowled at average speeds around 91 kilometers per hour, with their slowest balls around 83 kilometers per hour.
Critical Dismissals Highlight the Gap: KL Rahul’s dismissals in both innings perfectly illustrated the challenge Harmer posed. In the first innings, Rahul stretched forward but couldn’t reach the pitch of Maharaj’s delivery. Similarly, in the second innings, he played all around a Harmer off-break that ripped out of the footmarks.
Former India captain Anil Kumble analyzed Rahul’s second-innings dismissal during commentary. He praised Harmer’s delivery while explaining Rahul’s mistake. “Simon Harmer bowled a brilliant off-spinner with plenty of dip and revolutions. KL committed too early and didn’t get to the pitch,” Kumble observed.
Kumble further explained that experienced batters usually adjust their stance on deteriorating pitches. However, Rahul’s positioning left his off-stump vulnerable. The ball gripped the surface, turned sharply, and bowled him for just 6 runs.
Harmer and Maharaj showed far more comfort bowling slower through the air with increased overspin. This allowed the ball to dip and bite into the surface effectively. Conversely, India’s fingerspinners struggled to match this range of variation.
India did recognize this issue during South Africa’s second innings. Washington bowled a long spell with conspicuous overspin at mid-80s speeds rather than low 90s. He generated an impressive dip and bounce, getting Temba Bavuma caught at leg slip. Nevertheless, by then South Africa had already gained a commanding position.
India’s recent preference for preparing square turners at home may have created unintended consequences. Their spinners have become habituated to bowling in a particular way. Additionally, India has prioritized similar qualities when selecting fingerspinners – air speed, control, and batting depth.
With R Ashwin now retired, India lacks fingerspinners with more traditional flight-bowling traits in their Test squad. They do have Kuldeep Yadav, a wrist-spinner who excels at giving the ball loop and varying speeds. However, captain Rishabh Pant showed reluctance to give him long spells in Guwahati.
After introducing Kuldeep with a seven-over spell on day one, Pant never gave him a single spell extending past five overs in either innings. This limited Kuldeep’s effectiveness, as spinners typically need longer spells to build rhythm and settle into their lengths.
Lessons From Recent History: Between 2016 and 2019, India played most home Tests on true pitches. During this period, Ashwin and Jadeja consistently outbowled every visiting attack. Since 2021, however, India has mostly played home Tests against strong opposition on pitches that turn sharply and early.
Meanwhile, touring sides have learned from India’s successes. They’ve built spin attacks better suited to Indian conditions. These spinners practice regularly on less helpful pitches in international and domestic cricket. Therefore, they develop multiple facets of their game.
Simon Harmer’s outstanding performances in this series have exposed important truths about India’s spin bowling. While India possesses enviable depth with three quality spin-bowling all-rounders, their fingerspinners share broadly similar strengths. This similarity, combined with playing predominantly on helpful surfaces, may have prevented them from developing into more complete bowlers across different conditions. India’s spinners remain world-class, but they may no longer be the undisputed best across all surfaces.
Sports
Gurinder Singh Sangha: First Indian Umpire Manager for Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup
Gurinder Singh Sangha, a talented individual from Jalandhar, has received a prestigious appointment.
A historic appointment celebrates Indian hockey excellence. Gurinder Singh Sangha from Jalandhar receives the prestigious role of Umpire Manager for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup. This tournament runs from November 28 to December 10 in Tamil Nadu. Remarkably, he becomes the first Indian ever chosen for this position at the World Cup level.
Sangha expressed overwhelming joy about this achievement. Currently, he teaches physical education at Olympian Manpreet Singh Government Senior Secondary School in Mithapur, Punjab. Moreover, his dedication to hockey spans several decades, making him highly qualified for this responsibility.
Previously, Sangha served as Umpire Manager for the Junior Asia Cup in Oman. That tournament took place from November 26 to December 4 last year. Additionally, he has officiated at numerous significant events, including the Asian Games, Asia Cup, and Olympic qualifiers.
At 53 years old, Sangha demonstrates an unwavering commitment to the sport. He stated, “The day I am taken out of the ground is the day I will breathe my last.” This powerful statement reflects his deep passion. Furthermore, he was born in the Jandu Sangha locality in Jalandhar district.
His hockey journey began at age 13. Subsequently, he became a skilled player during his school years at Doaba Khalsa Senior Secondary School. He competed at school, district, state, and national levels successfully. However, despite his talent, he never represented the national team.
His father significantly influenced his hockey career. An Air Force officer and international-level player, his father inspired Sangha’s love for the game. Although disappointed about not playing internationally, Sangha channeled his passion into coaching and teaching instead.
In 2018, the International Hockey Federation appointed him as an international hockey Umpire Manager. This role involves guiding and training new umpires for international competitions. Meanwhile, he has served on Hockey India’s technical and umpiring committee for several years.
Sangha has trained numerous international players throughout his career. Notably, he worked with Olympians Sukhjit Singh, Hardik Singh, and Jarmanpreet Singh. Consequently, he feels proud watching their achievements on the world stage. His coaching expertise extends beyond officiating into player development.
Throughout his career, Sangha has officiated approximately 80 international matches. These experiences span various continents and prestigious tournaments. Therefore, his extensive background makes him perfectly suited for the World Cup role.
As Umpire Manager, Sangha oversees all umpires during the tournament. His responsibilities include ensuring fair play and smooth match operations. Additionally, he manages umpire assignments and resolves any officiating challenges that arise.
The Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup showcases emerging talent from around the globe. Young players eager to prove themselves will compete for international recognition. Similarly, this tournament serves as a stepping stone toward senior international careers.
Indian hockey continues gaining recognition worldwide. Recent successes in various tournaments demonstrate the sport’s growing strength domestically. Furthermore, appointments like Sangha’s highlight India’s increasing influence in hockey administration globally.
Gurinder Singh Sangha carries Indian hockey’s pride into this prestigious appointment. His journey from player to educator to international official inspires many aspiring hockey professionals. Ultimately, his dedication proves that passion and perseverance create lasting impact in sports.
Sports
Mohali: PCA Honors World Cup Heroes with ₹11 Lakh Awards
The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has exciting news for cricket fans.
The PCA honors World Cup heroes event will soon bring great joy to cricket lovers in Punjab. The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) has announced a special ceremony to recognize three outstanding players from Punjab who played a key role in India’s recent World Cup success. This celebration will honor their talent, dedication, and contribution to the nation’s victory.
PCA President Amarjit Singh Mehta and Joint Secretary Siddhant Sharma personally congratulated the players and their coach. Mehta proudly said, “This World Cup victory is a moment of immense pride for the entire nation, and we at the PCA are especially delighted that key members of this historic achievement hail from Punjab.” His words reflected the joy and pride shared by everyone at the association.
Punjab has always been a powerhouse in Indian cricket. Many legendary players from the state have represented India at the international level. The PCA, founded in 1944, has consistently played a vital role in developing young talent and promoting cricket in the region. Over the years, it has supported hundreds of cricketers who went on to achieve national and global recognition.
The famous PCA Stadium in Mohali stands as a symbol of this cricketing heritage. Known for its modern facilities and world-class infrastructure, it has hosted many international matches, including World Cup games. Fans across India remember it for thrilling performances, close finishes, and unforgettable cricketing moments.
As part of the upcoming event, the PCA will distribute cash awards worth ₹11 lakh among the honored players. This gesture not only rewards their hard work but also encourages upcoming cricketers in Punjab to follow their passion. Such recognition helps young players dream big and believe in their potential to represent India one day.
Beyond the awards, the PCA’s ceremony aims to highlight the spirit of cricket in Punjab. The sport brings people together, strengthens community bonds, and inspires youth to stay active and disciplined. The PCA also plans to launch new youth training programs and inter-district tournaments to help identify future stars.
Cricket in Punjab is more than just a sport, it’s a tradition. Events like this keep the passion alive and remind fans of the values of teamwork, dedication, and perseverance. The achievements of these players serve as motivation for every young athlete who wishes to wear the national jersey.
The PCA honors World Cup heroes celebration will not only recognize excellence but also reaffirm Punjab’s deep connection with cricket. So, with pride, unity, and ambition, the people of Punjab continue to shape India’s cricketing future.
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