M. A. Chidambaram Stadium

Ground information       Location Chepauk, Chennai Establishment : 1916 (50,000 capacity) Owner: Government of Tamil Nadu Operator: Tamil Nadu Cricket Association End names: Anna Pavilion End V Pattabhiraman Gate End

History The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium is a cricket stadium in Chennai (formerly Madras), India, named after M. A. Chidambaram, the former President of BCCI and the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The stadium was formerly known as Madras Cricket Club Ground or Chepauk Stadium. Commonly known as Chepauk, its first match was played 10 February 1934. Built by the East Coast Constructions and Industries, this stadium is where the Indian cricket team won its first ever Test victory here in 1952 against England. Sunil Gavaskar notched up his record breaking 30th Test hundred on this ground in 1983-84. The India-Australia encounter in 1986-87 ended in a tie - only the second in the game's long history. The next season, leg spinner Narendra Hirwani claimed the best match analysis by a player on Test debut, finishing with 16 for 136. The Chepauk crowd is known to be amongst the most appreciative in the country. This was proved when those present gave a standing ovation to Saeed Anwar after his record breaking 194 against India in the Independence Cup match in 1997 and again when Pakistan won a Test match in 1999. A truly overwhelmed Pakistani team even made a lap of honour in appreciation of the spectators' sporting behaviour. It is the home ground of the Tamil Nadu cricket team and also for IPL's Chennai Super Kings led by current Indian captain MS Dhoni. Hopkins Architects have been asked by the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association to find a way to increase capacity, provide additional corporate box and air-conditioned accommodation, maintain roof shading and get the swing back. It is also important that the principles of Vaasthu, an Indian form of feng shui, be adhered to in the design.