Stats Analysis: Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore

Virender Sehwag smashed 219 in the previous ODI in Indore against West Indies

After a disappointing T20 series, India appeared to turn the tide in their favour when they were cruising towards the total in Kanpur. However, the South African pace bowlers delivered an inspired performance in the death overs to edge the hosts in a thriller at the Green Park Stadium. Bruised and demoralized, India are searching for answers as the caravan heads to the Holkar Stadium in Indore.

The Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association owns the 30,000 strong Holkar Stadium which came into prominence after unsavory incidents involving the Nehru Stadium in Indore. In 1997, an ODI between India and Sri Lanka was abandoned after the 3rd over of the 1st innings due as the umpires felt that the pitch was dangerous for the players. Following a 2-year ban, the Nehru Stadium managed to host only one match.

Since then, the Holkar Stadium has been the premier cricket ground in Indore. It was the home of the now-defunct Holkar cricket team who had won the Ranji Trophy on 4 occasions. Some of the legendary cricketers to have adorned the stadium include the likes of CK Nayudu, India's first test captain and Mushtaq Ali who was the first Indian to score an overseas century.

There have only been 3 ODIs which have ever taken place in the Holkar Stadium. India enjoy an unbeaten record by virtue of winning all those 3 matches. The 1st encounter was during the 2006 series between India and England. In what was a dead-rubber, captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and decided to chase. Sreesanth ripped through the opposition batting line-up on a batting-friendly surface with his 6-55. With half-centuries from all the top-order batsmen, India overhauled the target with relative ease.

In the contest between the same teams during the 2008 series, Yuvraj Singh’s flawless hundred anchored India’s innings to set a challenging total of 292. Yuvraj came back to torment England with the ball on a pitch which offered significant turn. He was ably supported by the occasional off-spin of Virender Sehwag as England could only manage 238.

The most recent match in the venue occurred in December 2011 and pitted a rejuvenated Indian outfit against the misfiring West Indies. Having taken a 2-1 lead in the 5-match series, India opted to bat on perfect batting conditions. Skipper Sehwag led the way with a brutal innings by pulverizing the West Indian attack including the likes of Kemar Roach, Ravi Rampaul and Sunil Narine. He overhauled countryman Sachin Tendulkar’s 200* to register the highest individual score in an ODI. After setting a massive target of 418, the Indian spinners dismissed the visitors for 265 to seal the match and series.

All Previous ODIs at the Holkar Stadium- Match Statistics

Match #	Year	Opposition	Toss	Scores	Result	MoM
1	2006	England	India	Eng 288 Ind 289/3	India won - 7 wickets	Shanthakumaran Sreesanth
2	2008	England	India	Ind 292 Eng 238	India won by 54 runs	Yuvraj Singh
3	2011	West Indies	India	Ind 418 WI 265	India won by 153 runs	Virender Sehwag

Sehwag and Yuvraj are the top 2 run-scorers in the Holkar Stadium with 220 and 181 respectively. In the bowling department, Sreesanth leads the chart with 6 wickets followed by Yuvraj with 5.

Judging from history, both India and South Africa can expect a surface which will assist the batsmen. As a hot and humid day is predicted, there might also be turn on offer which the spinners would hope to exploit. Since it is a Day-Night encounter, the ball could move around at the start of the 2nd innings. Therefore, racking up a huge score and putting the opposition batsmen under pressure could be the perfect way to win the contest.

At the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore, the home team's dressing room is the 'Rahul Dravid Dressing Room'. #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/aSQndNooUp

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 13, 2015