MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk is known as an ideal ground for spin bowlers due to its dry surface and limited grass cover, enabling many high-scoring games at this ground.
MA Chidambaram Stadium, also known as Chepauk Stadium, is a cricket stadium located in Chennai, India. It is one of the oldest cricket grounds in India and has a rich history. The stadium has hosted several international cricket matches and is also the home ground for the Chennai Super Kings, one of the most successful teams in the Indian Premier League.
Table of Contents
Facts and information about MA Chidambaram Stadium
History
The MA Chidambaram Stadium was established in 1916 and has a seating capacity of around 38,000. It is named after MA Chidambaram, who was the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 1990 to 1993.
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Major Matches
The stadium has hosted several international cricket matches, including the World Cup in 1987, 1996, and 2011. It has also hosted many Test matches, One Day Internationals, and T20 Internationals.
Home Ground for Chennai Super Kings
The Chennai Super Kings, one of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), use the MA Chidambaram Stadium as their home ground. The team has won the IPL title three times and has a strong fan following in Chennai.
Pitch and Playing Conditions
The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium is known for its spin-friendly conditions, and many spinners have had success on this ground. The outfield is usually quick, which makes it conducive to strokeplay.
Renovation
The stadium underwent major renovation work in 2010 in preparation for the 2011 World Cup. The renovation included the installation of new floodlights, the construction of new stands, and the upgrading of the dressing rooms and media facilities.
Stadium Facilities
The MA Chidambaram Stadium has several facilities, including a gymnasium, a swimming pool, and a practice area. It also has a seating capacity of around 38,000 and provides a great viewing experience for spectators.
Transportation
The stadium is located in the heart of Chennai and is easily accessible by public transport. It is around 5 kilometers from Chennai Central Railway Station and around 16 kilometers from Chennai International Airport.
Address
No. 1, Bells Road, Chepauk, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600005
Records and Statistics
| First | Last | |
| Test | India v England – Feb 10-13, 1934 | India v England – Feb 13-16, 2021 |
| ODI | India v Australia – Oct 9, 1987 | India v Australia – Mar 22, 2023 |
| T20I | India v New Zealand – Sep 11, 2012 | India v West Indies – Nov 11, 2018 |
Also Read: Wankhede Stadium: The Pride of Mumbai’s Sporting Culture
It is the second-oldest cricket stadium in India
MA Chidambaram Stadium was constructed in 1916 and serves as one of India’s oldest cricket stadiums, hosting all formats including Test matches, One Day Internationals, Twenty20 matches as well as being home to both Tamil Nadu cricket team and Chennai Super Kings from Indian Premier League (IPL).
Chepauk Sports Arena is a multi-purpose venue that regularly hosts sporting events and festivals, located a few hundred meters from Marina Beach along the Bay of Bengal. Wallajah Road provides access in the north; Babu Jagjivanram Road leads west, while Pycrofts Road connects it to Pycrofts Road in the south.
MA Chidambaram Stadium serves as the official home ground of Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). It was named in honour of M. A. Chidambaram Chettiar, former president of India’s Board of Control for Cricket in India and head of Tamil Nadu Cricket Association.
MA Chidambaram Stadium remains one of the city’s premier cricketing venues, hosting both IPL and Ranji Trophy cricket matches.
Madras Cricket Club Ground was previously known as Chennai Super Kings’ home ground; now owned and managed by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association as part of Government Estate.
MA Chidambaram Stadium hosts IPL 2023 games and there are various ways fans can secure tickets. Booking them online is the simplest and quickest option for cricket fans who cannot make the trip down to the ticket booths in person.
Alternative option would be purchasing offline tickets from stadium ticket offices, which can be beneficial for people unfamiliar with online ticket purchases but requires considerable physical exertion to reach.
MA Chidambaram Stadium’s pitch has proven itself favourable to spinners, leading to high average first innings totals that decline rapidly to an average second innings total of just 119 runs.
Teams looking to use spinners effectively in winning can benefit from using this pitch for spinners-only innings, with scoring runs coming easily on this surface. Chasing has also proven beneficial due to it facilitating run scoring quickly on this ground.
It is a spin-friendly pitch
MA Chidambaram Stadium features a spin-friendly pitch that provides excellent conditions for batting. CSK have called MA Chidambaram home since IPL started back in 2008 and its capacity exceeds 50,000 people.
The pitch is usually dry and hard, providing batsmen with an ideal surface on which to score runs quickly during their first two innings. Over time however, its condition deteriorates with footmarks from bowlers creating cracks in its surface that aid spin bowlers in taking wickets off batsmen quickly and comfortably using orthodox spin.
Batsmen who hit their shots to small boundaries can make life very difficult for bowlers; one reason spinners have often dominated matches at MA Chidambaram Stadium.
MA Chidambaram Stadium provides an ODI pitch that is typically dry and hard, ideal for batting on. Over the course of an ODI match, however, its surface often becomes slower as time progresses – making it hard for batsmen to chase targets effectively.
It is a high-scoring venue
Chepauk features a hard and dry pitch that makes for ideal conditions for batters to score big totals, but these totals can quickly be chased down by opponents.
Chepauk offers more than just ideal conditions for batsmen – it also gives spinners some help, being one of the more favorable pitches available.
As one of India’s few cricket grounds with an excellent bowling track, it provides numerous bowlers an ideal bowling environment and several have even achieved five-wicket hauls here.
MA Chidambaram Stadium boasts an average first innings score after 31 ODIs at 230, which is significantly higher than all other IPL venues.
However, the average score in the second innings tends to be slightly lower due to batters receiving early help and then spinners entering late in a match.
Sunil Gavaskar scored 29 Test centuries here while Sachin Tendulkar made history against Pakistan with an innings of 136 against them in 1999. Furthermore, this ground hosted its inaugural Ranji Trophy match back in 1936.
MA Chidambaram Stadium has hosted 67 IPL games to date and remains an iconic venue of the league. Fans flock here in their hundreds each season for action-packed matches with high scores!
Tickets for IPL matches at MA Chidambaram Stadium often sell out quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to secure tickets early.
FAQs
When was MA Chidambaram Stadium built?
MA Chidambaram Stadium was built in 1916 and was originally known as Madras Cricket Club Ground.
Can visitors take a tour of MA Chidambaram Stadium?
Yes, visitors can take a tour of MA Chidambaram Stadium. The tour includes a visit to the players’ dressing room, the media center, and the stands.
How can I purchase tickets for matches at MA Chidambaram Stadium?
Tickets for matches at MA Chidambaram Stadium can be purchased online through the official ticketing partner or at the stadium box office.
Is parking available at MA Chidambaram Stadium?
Limited parking is available at MA Chidambaram Stadium, but it is recommended to use public transportation or park at nearby designated areas.
What are some nearby attractions to visit after a match at MA Chidambaram Stadium?
Some nearby attractions to visit after a match at MA Chidambaram Stadium include the Marina Beach, Fort St. George, and the Kapaleeswarar Temple.
Are there any restrictions on bringing food and drinks into MA Chidambaram Stadium?
Outside food and drinks are not allowed inside MA Chidambaram Stadium during matches. However, there are food and beverage stalls available inside the stadium.