The MA Chidambaram Stadium is an iconic cricket ground located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Popularly known as the Chepauk Stadium, the MA Chidambaram Stadium was established in 1916. It is India’s second oldest cricket stadium after Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
Owned and operated by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), the stadium is located at Chepauk, a few hundred metres from Marina beach along the Bay of Bengal.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium is named after Muthiah Annamalai Chidambaram, the former president of BCCI and Head of TNCA. It was formerly named as Madras Cricket Club Ground.
It is the home ground of the Tamil Nadu cricket team in domestic cricket and Team Chennai in the Indian T20 League.
The MA Chidambaram Stadium staged its first international match, a Test played between Douglas Jardine's England and CK Nayudu's India in February 1934. England won the Test by 202 runs.
Since then, it has hosted more than 35 Test matches so far. It has also staged several ODIs and T20 internationals in men’s cricket.
Let’s have a look at the MA Chidambaram Stadium Test records and stats:
MA Chidambaram Stadium Test records and stats
Highest total
The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. During the fifth Test of England’s tour of India in December 2016, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth 759/7d after bowling out England for 477. Karun Nair’s unbeaten triple century (303 not out), KL Rahul’s 199 and fifties from Parthiv Patel (71), Ravichandran Ashwin (67) and Ravindra Jadeja (51) powered India to a record Test total at the venue. England were later bundled out for 207 in their second innings as India won the Chennai Test by an innings and 75 runs.
Lowest total
India have also registered the lowest total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. Chasing 284 in the fourth innings, the Bishan Bedi-led side was skittled out for 83 in the third Test of England’s tour of India in January 1977. Sunil Gavaskar top-scored for India with 24 while Mohinder Amarnath scored 12. For England, left-arm spinner Derek Underwood was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets while fast bowler Bob Willis picked up three scalps. Earlier, India could only manage 164 in their first innings after England posted 262. The visitors later scored 185/9d in their second innings to set-up a target of 284.
Most runs
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Chennai. Between 1973 and 1987, the legendary batter accumulated 1,018 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 59.88, including three centuries and just as many fifties at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in red-ball cricket. Another Indian batting great, Sachin Tendulkar, features second on the list with 970 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 88.18 between 1993 and 2013. He slammed five hundreds and two fifties at this venue in Tests.
Most wickets
Legendary India cricketer Anil Kumble claimed the most wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. The former leg-spinner bagged 48 Test wickets in just eight matches between 1993 and 2008 at an average of 19.56. Kumble took five five-wicket hauls at this iconic venue in cricket’s longest format. His best bowling figures (7/48) at this ground in Tests came against Australia in October 2004. His former teammate Harbhajan Singh is second on the list with 42 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 28.04.
Highest individual score
Former Indian opening batter Virender Sehwag registered the highest individual score at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the Test format. Opening the innings alongside Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag slammed 319 off just 304 balls against South Africa in March 2008. Sehwag's magnificent triple century was laced with 42 fours and five maximums in Chennai. After South Africa posted 540, India recorded 627 in their first innings courtesy Sehwag’s triple hundred. The visitors declared their second innings at 331/5 as the first Test of a three-match series ended in a draw.
Best bowling figures in an innings
Former India all-rounder Vinoo Mankad recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 1952. The former left-arm spinner registered match-winning figures of 8/55 to help restrict England for 266 in their first innings. Vinoo Mankad dismissed Tom Graveney, Jack Robertson, Allan Watkins, Cyril Poole, captain Donald Carr, Malcolm Hilton, Brian Statham and Fred Ridgway. Mankad also picked up four wickets in the second innings as India won the Test by an innings and eight runs in Chennai.
Best bowling figures in a match
India’s Narendra Hirwani holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The former India leg-spinner took 16 wickets during the fourth Test of West Indies’ tour of India in 1988. While Hirwani scalped eight wickets for 61 runs in the first innings, he bagged eight wickets for 75 runs in the second innings. Hirwani’s incredible bowling performance helped India win the Test by a massive 255 runs.
Highest partnership
Former Indian cricketers Gundappa Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma recorded the highest partnership at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. During the fifth Test of England’s tour of India in 1982, Gundappa Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma forged a massive 316-run stand for the third wicket in their first innings. Viswanath slammed 222 while Sharma scored 140. The match later ended in a draw in Chennai.
Photo credit: Imago
