M. A. Chidambaram Stadium

Muthiah Annamalai Chidambaram Stadium, commonly known as the Chepauk Stadium, is a cricket stadium in Chepauk, Chennai. It is named after former BCCI president M. A. Chidambaram, and is operated by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. It was established in 1916 and is the second oldest international cricket stadium in the country that is still in use after the Eden Gardens.
It hosts matches of the Indian cricket team and the Indian women's cricket team apart from conducting matches during major international cricketing events. 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.
Chepauk hosted its first cricket test match in February 1934 during England's tour of India. It subsequently hosted the first match of the inaugural Ranji Trophy in November of the same year. The India cricket team recorded its first test victory in 1952 against England at the venue. The venue was also the host of the second ever tied test match in the history of the game during Australia's tour in 1986.
The Indian women's team played their second ever women's test in November 1976 against West Indies at Chepauk. The stadium hosted its first one day international match between India and Australia during the 1987 Cricket World Cup. It subsequently served as one of the venues when India hosted the World Cup in 1996, 2011, 2023, and the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup. As of October 2024, the ground has hosted more than 80 international cricket matches.
In 1846, a cricket ground designed by Henry Irwin was established by Alexander Arbuthnot in the Chepauk palace grounds. 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). 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. The venue hosted a match between the touring Europeans versus the Indians Presidency in 1908. The stadium was formally established in 1916, when the presidency matches were planned as an annual event.
Chepauk hosted its first cricket test match in February 1934 during England's tour of India which was won by England. It is the second oldest international cricket stadium in India that is still in use after the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. It subsequently hosted the first match of the inaugural Ranji Trophy between Madras and Mysore in November of the same year. In 1946, 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. 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.
When M. A. Chidambaram became the president of the Madras Cricket Association (MCA) in 1956, the association wanted to occupy the ground on a permanent basis. 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. When the 30-year lease of the stadium held by the MCC ended in 1966, the MCA obtained the least from the Madras government.
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. The Government of Tamil Nadu gave ₹1.5 million (US$18,000) with Chidambaram donating a similar amount from his personal wealth and the Madras Race Club donated ₹0.5 million (US$5,800). The remaining amount of ₹14 million (US$160,000) was loaned by the banks. The construction was completed in 1981.
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. The Indian women's team played their second ever women's test in November 1976 against West Indies at Chepauk. The stadium was renamed from Madras Cricket Club Ground to M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in 1986. The venue was the host of the second ever tied test match in the history of the game during Australia's tour in 1986. The stadium hosted its first one day international match between India and Australia during the 1987 Cricket World Cup. It further hosted matches during the subsequent 1996 Cricket World Cup and 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup.
A major reconstruction work was undertaken at the cost of ₹1.75 billion (US$20 million) in 2010 ahead of the 2011 Cricket World Cup. 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. 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 redesigning of the stands at a gradient of 36°, which would let the sea breeze to get into the ground. The stadium hosted four matches during the 2011 Cricket World Cup, which was won by India.
On 31 March 2015, the Supreme Court of India ruled that the renovation violated regulations relating to public safety. 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. 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 a period of 21 years with revised conditions. The stands were finally de-sealed and opened in March 2020.
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. The demolition temporarily reduced the capacity to 31,140. The renovations were done at a cost of ₹1.39 billion (US$16 million) and following its completion, the permanent seating capacity of the stadium expanded to 38,000. The new stand which housed the Anna Pavilion was named after former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and was inaugurated on 17 March 2023. The stadium hosted five matches during the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
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. The Chennai MRTS line abuts the stadium and the Chepauk MRTS Railway Station is located to the south-east. The nearest station of the Chennai Metro is the Government Estate station.
This stadium has hosted 12 men's one-day matches across four Cricket World Cups and a single WODI match during the 1997 Women's Cricket World Cup.