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M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as the Chepauk Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.[12] Established in 1916, it is the second oldest cricket stadium in the country after Eden GardensinKolkata.[4][13] It is owned and operated by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). The stadium is located at Chepauk, a few hundred meters from Marina beach along the Bay of Bengal.
Chepauk Stadium
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Location in Chennai Show map of ChennaiLocation in Tamil Nadu Show map of Tamil NaduLocation in India Show map of India | |
Former names | Madras Cricket Club Ground |
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Address | Wallahjah Road - Bells Road Intersection, Chepauk, Chennai (Central), Tamil Nadu, India – 600002 |
Location | Chepauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu India |
Coordinates | 13°03′46″N 80°16′46″E / 13.06278°N 80.27944°E / 13.06278; 80.27944 |
Elevation | 7 metres (23 ft) |
Public transit | Blue LineatGovernment Estate
atChepauk |
Owner | Tamil Nadu Cricket Association |
Operator | Tamil Nadu Cricket Association |
Type | Stadium |
Genre(s) | Sporting Events |
Seating type | All seaters Stadium seating |
Capacity | 38,200[1][2] |
Field shape | Round |
Surface | Grass |
Construction | |
Broke ground | 1865[3] |
Renovated |
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Expanded | 2010–2011[8] |
Architect | East Coast Constructions Hopkins Architects, London[9][10] (2010) |
Tenants | |
India Men's National Cricket Team (1934 - present) India Women's National Cricket Team (1997 - present) Tamil Nadu Men's Cricket Team (1916 - present) Tamil Nadu Women's Cricket Team (2006 - present) Chennai Super Kings (2008 - present) Chepauk Super Gillies (2016 - present) | |
Ground information | |
Establishment | 1916; 108 years ago (1916)[11] |
End names | |
V. Pattabhiraman Gate End Anna Pavilion End | |
International information | |
First Test | 10–13 February 1934: Indiav England |
Last Test | 13–17 February 2021: Indiav England |
First ODI | 9 October 1987: Indiav Australia |
Last ODI | 27 October 2023: Pakistanv South Africa |
First T20I | 11 September 2012: Indiav New Zealand |
Last T20I | 11 November 2018: Indiav West Indies |
Only women's Test | 7–9 November 1976: Indiav West Indies |
First WODI | 23 February 1984: Indiav Australia |
Last WODI | 5 March 2007: Australiav New Zealand |
First WT20I | 23 March 2016: South Africav Ireland |
Last WT20I | 27 March 2016: Englandv Pakistan |
As of 27 October 2023 Source: ESPNcricinfo | |
Formerly known as Madras Cricket Club Ground, the stadium is named after Muthiah Annamalai Chidambaram, the former president of BCCI and Head of TNCA. It is the home ground of the Tamil Nadu cricket team and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. Chepauk hosted its first Test match on 10 February 1934, hosted the first match of the first Ranji Trophy in 1934 [14] and the Indian cricket team's first test victory in 1952 against England. The 1986 India-Australia match held at Chepauk was only the second ever Tied Test in the history of the game.
The stadium hosted the finals of IPL 2011, IPL 2012, and IPL 2024.
The stadium can be accessed from Wallajah Road in the north, Bells Road in the west, Pycrofts Road in the south and Victoria Hostel Road parallel to the promenade of Marina Beach in the east. The stadium is connected through the Chennai Metro by the Government Estate station. It is also connected through the Chepauk MRTS Railway Station which lies on the Chennai Beach—Velachery section of the Chennai MRTS. The Buckingham Canal runs tangentially to the north side of the stadium.
Chepauk stadium is located across Chepauk Palace, the official residence of the Nawab of Arcot from 1768 to 1855. The stadium site used to be part of the palace grounds of the Chepauk Palace. Three Indo Saracenic style pillars at the entrance of the stadium are the last remnants of the association with the erstwhile palace grounds. The pillars are not built by the state cricket association but date back to the rule of Nawab Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah[4][15]
In 1859, Madras Presidency acquired Chepauk palace in an auction for ₹589,000.[16][6] In 1865, the government gave permission to build a pavilion at the palace grounds to Madras Cricket Club. The pavilion was finished in 1866. The pavilion was reconstructed in 1892[17] and was utilized till 1982 when it was demolished as part of the stadium renovation.[6]
Chepauk Stadium was established in 1916 and has been the home venue of the Tamil Nadu cricket team ever since.[11] It is the second oldest cricket stadium in the country after Eden GardensinKolkata, still holding all international cricket matches. Bombay Gymkhana being the first is not in use for international cricket.
From 1960 to 1988, Chennai hosted a Test match in the second week of January which was termed the Pongal Test, as it coincided with the Pongal harvest festival.[18][19]
In June 2010, reconstruction work of the stadium was taken up at the cost of ₹175 crore (US$21 million).[20][21] The plan consisted of constructing three new reinforced concrete stands designated I, J, and K accommodating 12,000 spectators and 24 hospitality boxes under translucent PTFE membrane roofs.[22] Hopkins Architects, London and Nataraj & Venkat Architects, Chennai were assigned contract by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.[9]
The renovation was completed in 2011 and the old roofing with pillars that often blocked the view of spectators in the old stadium were replaced by light quad conical roofing held together by cables. The stadium could accommodate 50,000 spectators after the reconstruction.[23][24] The stands are at a gradient of 36° and lets the sea breeze in to get the ground's traditional swing back.[25]
On 31 March 2015, the Supreme Court ruled that the renovation violates regulations relating to public safety.[26][27] The court ruled that the parts of the renovation which violate the regulations must be demolished and until the appropriate planning permissions are issued and the demolition is complete, three stands (I, J, K) must remain sealed.[28][29] After their construction, cricket matches took place in the stadium with the I, J, and K stands locked for spectators. The stands were finally de-sealed and opened in March 2020.[30]
In December 2021, the old Anna pavilion, Anna pavilion stand and MCC clubhouse were demolished to make way for a new pavilion and new stands.[31] The demolition reduced capacity to 31,140.[32] Along with this, temporary seating and standing were removed and permanent seating was installed settling the capacity at 38,200.[31][1][2] This was done at a cost of ₹139 crore ($16.9 million).
The new KMK stand houses the Anna Pavilion at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, named after former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi. A cutting-edge indoor training facility is located on the ground floor of the redesigned Anna Pavilion. It was inaugurated on March 17, 2023, by the Tamil Nadu CM M. K. Stalin accompanied by Chennai Super Kings Captain MS Dhoni. At that time, a new Madras Cricket Club stand was also completed.[33]
The TNCA has created an exception to honour the deceased five-time CM Karunanidhi, even though none of the stands are named after any former player, administrator, or politician. He died in 2018. Karunanidhi had a regular presence at games at Chepauk throughout his political career. He was elected as an MLA there during his last two terms as chief minister.
The total area of the stadium is 69,900 square metres (752,000 sq ft). This is under lease agreement between government and the association. In April 2015, the lease agreement between the government and association lapsed.[34] In November 2019, the lease period of the stadium was extended by the Tamil Nadu government for 21 years from 2015.
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This stadium has hosted 12 Men's One Day International matches across 4 World cup editions. In addition, the stadium has also hosted a semifinal in the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup.
The World cup matches hosted by this stadium are as follows:
1987 Cricket World Cup
9 October 1987 |
Australia |
v |
India |
Geoff Marsh 110 (141) |
Navjot Sidhu 73 (79) |
Australia won by 1 run |
13 October 1987 |
Australia |
v |
Zimbabwe |
Allan Border 67 (88) |
Kevin Curran 30 (38) |
Australia won by 96 runs |
1996 Cricket World Cup
11 March 1996 |
New Zealand |
v |
Australia |
Chris Harris 130 (124) |
Mark Waugh 110 (112) |
Australia won by 6 wickets |
2011 Cricket World Cup
20 February 2011 |
Kenya |
v |
New Zealand |
Rakep Patel 16 (23) |
Martin Guptill39* (32) |
New Zealand won by 10 wickets |
6 March 2011 |
England |
v |
South Africa |
Ravi Bopara 60 (98) |
Hashim Amla 42 (51) |
England won by 6 runs |
17 March 2011 (D/N) |
England |
v |
West Indies |
Jonathan Trott 47 (38) |
Andre Russell 49 (46) |
England won by 18 runs |
20 March 2011 (D/N) |
India |
v |
West Indies |
Yuvraj Singh 113 (123) |
Devon Smith 81 (97) |
India won by 80 runs |
2023 Cricket World Cup
8 October 2023 |
Australia |
v |
India |
Steve Smith 46 (71) |
KL Rahul 97* (115) |
India won by 6 wickets |
13 October 2023 |
Bangladesh |
v |
New Zealand |
Mushfiqur Rahim 66 (75) |
Daryl Mitchell 89* (67) |
New Zealand won by 8 wickets |
18 October 2023 |
New Zealand |
v |
Afghanistan |
Glenn Phillips 71 (80) |
Rahmat Shah 36 (62) |
New Zealand Won by 149 runs |
23 October 2023 |
Pakistan |
v |
Afghanistan |
Babar Azam 74 (92) |
Ibrahim Zadran 87 (113) |
Afghanistan Won by 8 Wickets |
27 October 2023 |
Pakistan |
v |
South Africa |
Saud Shakeel 52 (52) |
Aiden Markram 91 (93) |
South Africa won by 1 wicket |
26 December 1997 |
New Zealand |
v |
England |
Debbie Hockley 43 (104) |
Janette Brittin 32 (88) |
New Zealand Women won by 20 runs |