It was formerly known as Maharani Usharaje Trust Cricket Ground. In 2010, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association renamed it after the Holkar dynasty of the Maratha Empire that ruled Indore State.[2] Holkar stadium's ground is very small, its square boundaries are only 56 meters long.[3][4] in 2006 it hosted its first One Day International, since then it regularly hosts International matches.[1]
Indore city has another cricket stadium, Nehru Stadium which was used for International matches until 31 March 2001.[5]
It has a seating capacity of around 30,000 spectators. It is equipped with flood lights for night matches.[6]Virender Sehwag recorded the third highest ODI score of 219 at this ground.[7]Gwalior'sCaptain Roop Singh Stadium, another international stadium in Madhya Pradesh, is a bit smaller in capacity than Indore's Holkar Cricket Stadium.[8]
The credit for giving land for the stadium goes to the Holkar's of the Maratha Confederacy.
The ruling Maratha family of Indore State encouraged and pioneered cricket in this part of the country. Holkar cricket team appeared in ten Ranji Trophy season's, reaching the final eight times and winning the title four times.[citation needed]
It is on the some part of this ground that an older stadium was present where the Holkar's cricket team won its three Ranji Trophy titles, in the late 1940s and early 1950s. In this sense, some part of this stadium has seen greats like C.K. Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali playing for Ranji Trophy.
The stadium has hosted a total of 7 ODIs (2006, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2017, January 2023 and September 2023), 3 Tests (2016, 2019 and 2023) and 4 T20Is (2017, 2020, 2022 and 2024[9]). Apart from these the venue has witnessed a total of 9 IPL matches.[10] Since the stadium's inauguration, Team India had a 100% winning record until 4 October 2022, losing to South Africa by 49 runs in a T20I match during the South Africa Tour of India in 2022.[1]
The first match was staged on 15 April 2006, India successfully chased 289 to complete a 5–0 series win on England in what was a dead rubber. Its second international match came two and a half years later when England next toured, India again winning. The rest three ODIs were against West Indies, South Africa and Australia.
The Stadium hosted its first ever IPL match on 13 May 2011. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi is the home venue for the Indian Premier League team Kochi Tuskers Kerala and officially hosted 5 home-matches of the franchise. The remaining 2 home matches were played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium. In 2017, Kings XI Punjab selected the Holkar stadium as one of their home grounds for three IPL matches.
Virender Sehwag made the highest runs in a limited over innings of cricket 219 here on 8 December 2011 against West Indies, which was later broken by Rohit Sharma.
Holkar Stadium hosted its first Test match in October 2016 when New Zealand cricket team toured India.[12] India defeated New Zealand by 321 runs on the fourth day to complete a 3–0 series whitewash. The second Test match was played between India and Bangladesh in 2019.[10]
In 2011, a committee was formed to decide the naming of Pavilion, Dressing Rooms and Stands/Galleries around the stadium. This committee had Surya Prakash Chaturvedi as the chairman. As per the recommendations of the committee following landmarks have been named :