M. A. Chidambaram Stadium
Ground nameM. A. Chidambaram Stadium
CountryIndia
LocationChepauk, Chennai, India
Coordinates13°03′46″N 80°16′46″E
Establishment1916 (age 110)
Seating capacity38,200[1]
ArchitectEast Coast Constructions[2]
Hopkins Architects[3]
OperatorTamil Nadu Cricket Association
End 1V. Pattabhiraman Gate End
End 2Anna Pavilion End
Year 11934–
Club 1India cricket team
Year 21997–
Club 2India women's cricket team
Year 31916–
Club 3Tamil Nadu cricket team
Year 42006–
Club 4Tamil Nadu women's cricket team
Year 52008–
Club 5Chennai Super Kings
Year 62016–
Club 6Tamil Nadu Premier League
Internationaltrue
Firsttestdate10–13 February
Firsttestyear1934
FirsttesthomeIndia
FirsttestawayEngland
Lasttestdate19–23 September
Lasttestyear2024
LasttesthomeIndia
LasttestawayBangladesh
Firstodidate9 October
Firstodiyear1987
FirstodihomeIndia
FirstodiawayAustralia
Lastodidate27 October
Lastodiyear2023
LastodihomePakistan
LastodiawaySouth Africa
Firstt20idate11 September
Firstt20iyear2012
Firstt20ihomeIndia
Firstt20iawayNew Zealand
Lastt20idate26 February
Lastt20iyear2026
Lastt20ihomeIndia
Lastt20iawayZimbabwe
Firstwtestdate7–9 November
Firstwtestyear1976
FirstwtesthomeIndia
FirstwtestawayWest Indies
Lastwtestdate28 June – 1 July
Lastwtestyear2024
LastwtesthomeIndia
LastwtestawaySouth Africa
Firstwodidate23 February
Firstwodiyear1984
FirstwodihomeIndia
FirstwodiawayAustralia
Lastwodidate7 March
Lastwodiyear2007
LastwodihomeAustralia
LastwodiawayNew Zealand
Firstwt20idate23 March
Firstwt20iyear2016
Firstwt20ihomeSouth Africa
Firstwt20iawayIreland
Lastwt20idate9 July
Lastwt20iyear2024
Lastwt20ihomeIndia
Lastwt20iawaySouth Africa
Date1 October 2024
Sourcehttps://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/58008.html ESPNcricinfo

M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as the Chepauk Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Chepauk, Chennai. It is named after M. A. Chidambaram, a former president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, and is managed by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). It was established in 1916 and is the second oldest international cricket stadium in the country after the Eden Gardens, still being used to host Test Cricket.

The stadium hosts matches of the Indian cricket team and the Indian women's cricket team apart from conducting matches during major international cricketing events organised by the International Cricket Council. It serves as the home ground of the Tamil Nadu cricket team and Tamil Nadu women's cricket team for domestic matches. The Indian Premier League (IPL) team Chennai Super Kings plays its home matches at the stadium and the venue hosted the finals of the IPL in 2011, 2012, and 2024. It is also used as a venue for the Tamil Nadu Premier League, a Twenty20 tournament organised by the TNCA.

Chepauk hosted its first cricket match in February 1934, when India played a test match against England's during the latter's tour of India. It subsequently hosted the first match of the inaugural Ranji Trophy in November of the same year. The Indian cricket team recorded its first ever Test victory at the venue in a match against England in 1952. The venue was also the host of the second-ever tied Test match in the history of the game during Australia's tour of India in 1986.

The Indian women's team played its second-ever Test match against the West Indies in November 1976 at Chepauk. The stadium hosted its first One Day International during the 1987 Cricket World Cup match between India and Australia. It subsequently served as one of the venues when India hosted the Cricket World Cup in 1996, 2011, 2023, the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup, and the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. As of December 2025, the ground has hosted more than 85 international cricket matches.

History

Early years

In 1846, a cricket ground designed by Henry Irwin was established by Alexander Arbuthnot in the Chepauk palace grounds.[4][5] In 1859, the Madras Presidency acquired the Chepauk palace from the Nawab of Carnatic. In 1865, a new pavilion was constructed and it became the home of the Madras Cricket Club (MCC).[4][6] The original Chisholm pavilion located in the southwestern corner of the ground was badly damaged in a cyclone in 1889, and a new pavilion was constructed to replace the same in 1892. The new Irwin pavilion was built in Anglo-Indian architecture.[6] The venue hosted a match between the touring Europeans versus the Indians Presidency in 1908.[7] The stadium was formally established in 1916 when the presidency matches were planned as an annual event.[5][7][8]

International venue

Chepauk hosted its first cricket test match in February 1934 during England's tour of India which was won by England.[9] It is the second oldest international cricket stadium in India that is still in use after the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.[10] It subsequently hosted the first match of the inaugural Ranji Trophy between Madras and Mysore in November of the same year.[8][10][11] In 1946, the first attempts were made to build a larger stadium by Anthony De Mello, which was accepted by the MCC subject to the approval of the Indian government.[7] The stadium played host to the fifth test of the series when England toured India in 1951-52. In February 1952, India recorded its first-ever test win when it beat England by an innings and eight runs.[8][12]

When M. A. Chidambaram became the president of the Madras Cricket Association (MCA) in 1956, the association wanted to occupy the ground permanently. However, the MCC was reluctant to loan the use of the ground, fearing that regular use would lead to deterioration of the facilities. Hence, after India's first test victory in 1952, test matches in Madras were hosted at the corporation stadium till January 1967.[7] When the 30-year lease of the stadium held by the MCC ended in 1966, the MCA obtained the least from the Madras government.[13]

Permanent structure and renaming

The MCA changed its name to Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) after the state was renamed from Madras State to Tamil Nadu. The TNCA wanted to build a permanent structure as the stadium still hosted matches with temporary stands and the foundation stone for the new stadium structure was laid in 1971.[13] The Government of Tamil Nadu gave ₹1.5 with Chidambaram donating a similar amount from his wealth and the Madras Race Club donated ₹0.5. The remaining amount of ₹14 was loaned by the banks. The construction was completed in 1981.[13]

Beginning in the late 1960s till the late 1980s, the stadium hosted a Test match in the second week of January which was termed the Pongal Test, as it coincided with the Pongal harvest festival.[14] The Indian women's team played their second-ever women's test in November 1976 against the West Indies at Chepauk.[15] The stadium was renamed from Madras Cricket Club Ground to M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in 1986.[10][13] The venue was the host of the second ever tied test match in the history of the game during Australia's tour in 1986.[8][10] The stadium hosted its first One Day International match between India and Australia during the 1987 Cricket World Cup.[7] It further hosted matches during the subsequent 1996 Cricket World Cup and 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup.[16]

Major venue and further upgrades

A major reconstruction work was undertaken at the cost of ₹1.75 in 2010 ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup.[17][18] The plan consisted of constructing three new reinforced concrete stands which would accommodate an additional 12,000 spectators and the addition of 24 hospitality boxes.[19] The renovation also included the construction of new translucent PTFE roofs to replace the old roofs supported by pillars that blocked the view of spectators and the redesigning of the stands at a gradient of 36°, which would let the sea breeze into the ground.[20][21] The stadium hosted four matches during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which was won by India.[16]

On 31 March 2015, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the renovation violated regulations relating to public safety.[22][23] The court further ruled that the parts of the renovation which violate the regulations must be demolished and ordered the new stands to be sealed then.[24][25] The stands remained sealed as the MCC gymnasium had to be demolished to adhere to the safety regulations laid down by the Greater Chennai Corporation and the MCC was reluctant to do so. After the lease agreement between the government and TNCA ended in 2016, the agreement was renewed in 2019 for 21 years with revised conditions.[26][27] The stands were finally de-sealed and opened in March 2020.[27]

Further renovation works were planned in 2021-22 ahead of the 2023 Cricket World Cup. In December 2021, the old Anna pavilion, some of the stands and the MCC clubhouse were demolished to make way for a new pavilion and new stands.[28] The demolition temporarily reduced the capacity to 31,140.[29] The renovations were done at a cost of ₹1.39 and following its completion, the permanent seating capacity of the stadium expanded to 38,000.[28][30][31] The new stand which housed the Anna Pavilion was named after former chief minister M. Karunanidhi and was inaugurated on 17 March 2023.[32] The stadium hosted five matches during the 2023 Cricket World Cup.[16] In late 2025, the grass surface and the pitch was relaid as a part of planned renovation before the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.[33] The stadium is the planned venue for seven matches during the World Cup to be held in February 2026.[34]

Location and access

The stadium is located close to the Marina Beach and can be accessed from Wallajah Road in the north, Bells Road in the west, and Victoria Hostel Road parallel to the Buckingham Canal in the east.[35] The Chennai MRTS line abuts the stadium and the Chepauk MRTS Railway Station is located to the south-east.[35][36] The nearest station of the Chennai Metro is the Government Estate station.[36]

Notable records

Statistics

Overall

Men's Test Matches[54]
TeamPldWLTD
India35167111
England114601
Australia71312
WIN71402
Pakistan41102
NZ20101
Sri Lanka20002
South Africa10001
Bangladesh10010
Men's ODI Matches[55]
TeamPldWLTNR
India158601
WIN72500
Australia75200
NZ63201
England32100
Pakistan42200
Kenya21100
South Africa31200
Bangladesh20200
Afghanistan21100
Zimbabwe10100
Asia XI22000
Africa XI20200
Men's T20I Matches[56]
TeamPldWLTNR
NZ44000
India32100
England10100
WIN10100
Afghanistan10100
United Arab Emirates10100
United States11000
Netherlands10100
Canada10100
Women's Test Matches[57]
TeamPldWLTD
India21001
WIN10001
South Africa10100
Women's ODI Matches[58]
TeamPldWLTNR
India84400
Australia43100
New Zealand43100
England40400
IRE11000
Denmark10100
Women's T20I Matches[59]
TeamPldWLTNR
South Africa42101
India31101
Pakistan20200
WIN22000
Bangladesh10100
England11000
IRE10100

Individual

Most Test runs[60]
RunsPlayerPeriod
1018Sunil Gavaskar1973–1987
970Sachin Tendulkar1993–2013
785Gundappa Viswanath1969–1982
729Virender Sehwag2002–2013
708Kapil Dev1979–1993
Highest individual scores in Tests[61]
RunsPlayerOppositionYear
319Virender SehwagSouth Africa2008
303*Karun NairEngland2016
236*Sunil GavaskarWIN1983
224MS DhoniAustralia2013
222Gundappa ViswanathEngland1982
Most Test wickets[62]
WicketsPlayerPeriod
48Anil Kumble1993–2008
42Harbhajan Singh2001–2013
40Kapil Dev1979–1993
36Ravichandran Ashwin2013–2024
36Erapalli Prasanna1967–1977
Best individual figures in Tests[63]
FiguresPlayerOppositionYear
8/55Vinoo MankadEngland1952
8/61Narendra HirwaniWIN1988
8/75Narendra HirwaniWIN1988
8/84Harbhajan SinghAustralia2001
7/48Anil KumbleAustralia2004

Notable matches

This stadium has hosted 12 men's one-day matches across four Cricket World Cups, a single WODI match during the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup, and seven T20I matches during the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.[16][64]

Cricket World Cup

1987 Cricket World Cup


2011 Cricket World Cup




2023 Cricket World Cup





Men's T20 World Cup

2026 Men's T20 World Cup







See also

References

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