MA Chidambaram Stadium

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Lore & Background

The history of Chepauk stretches back to 1846 when a ground was established in the Chepauk palace grounds by Alexander Arbuthnot. After the Madras Presidency acquired the palace in 1859, a new pavilion was built in 1865 for the Madras Cricket Club (MCC). The original Chisholm pavilion was damaged by a cyclone in 1889 and replaced in 1892 with an Anglo-Indian style Irwin pavilion. Although formally established as an annual event venue in 1916, its international legacy began in February 1934 when India played England in the first Test match at Chepauk. That same year, it hosted the inaugural Ranji Trophy match between Madras and Mysore. A defining moment occurred in February 1952, when India recorded its first-ever Test victory against England by an innings and eight runs. Later, in 1986, the venue hosted the second-ever tied Test in history during Australia's tour.

In Their Own Story

The stadium underwent significant transformation to become a permanent structure for the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA). After M. A. Chidambaram became president of the Madras Cricket Association in 1956, the association sought permanent ownership, eventually securing the lease in 1966 after the MCC's 30-year term ended. The foundation stone for the new stadium was laid in 1971, funded by ₹1.5 million from the Government of Tamil Nadu, a matching donation from Chidambaram, and ₹0.5 million from the Madras Race Club, with the remainder borrowed from banks. Construction concluded in 1981, and the venue was renamed M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in 1986. From the late 1960s to the late 1980s, it hosted the 'Pongal Test' annually in January. Major reconstruction began in 2010 for ₹1.75 billion ahead of the 2011 World Cup, adding three new stands and replacing pillar-supported roofs with translucent PTFE ones. Further renovations in 2021, costing ₹1.39 billion, expanded capacity to 38,000 and introduced a stand named after M. Karunanidhi.

Reader's Guide

Located close to Marina Beach, the stadium is accessible via Wallajah Road from the north, Bells Road from the west, and Victoria Hostel Road from the east, which runs parallel to the Buckingham Canal. The Chepauk MRTS Railway Station sits to the south-east, while the Chennai Metro's nearest station is Government Estate. The venue hosts matches for the Indian men's and women's teams, domestic Tamil Nadu fixtures, and the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. It has served as a host for multiple Cricket World Cups (1987, 1996, 2011, 2023), the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup, and is scheduled to host matches for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. In February 2026, it hosted seven matches during that tournament. The ground has also been a stage for historic individual records, including Virender Sehwag's triple century of 319 against South Africa in April 2008 and Saeed Anwar's then-highest ODI score of 194 in 1997.

Did You Know?

• It is the second oldest international cricket stadium in India still in use, after Eden Gardens.
• India recorded its first-ever Test victory at this venue against England in February 1952.
• The stadium hosted the second-ever tied Test match in history during Australia's tour in 1986.
• It has hosted IPL finals in three different years: 2011, 2012, and 2024.