
This is one of the oldest stadiums of India. The stadium is popularly known as Cheupauk Stadium. The stadium was named after M.A, Chidambaram, the former president of BCCI and Tamil Nadu Cricket Association. The stadium was formerly known as Madras Cricket Club Ground. The Cheupauk stadium was established even before the presidency matches in 1916. The first test played in the M.A. Chidambaram stadium was the match between Douglas Jardine`s England and C K Nayudu`s India in the year 1933-34. This is the stadium where the first Ranji Trophy Match was played, where AG Ram Singh took eleven wickets to bring victory for Madras over Mysore. The seating capacity of this stadium is fifty thousand. There are provisions for floodlights. The two end names are Anna Pavilion End and V. Pattabhiraman Gate End.
India recorded the first International test winning at this ground when in the year 1951-52 they defeated England by an innings and eight runs. In the year 1983-84 Sunil Gavaskar got his thirtieth test century in the Chepauk ground. In the next session, Narendra Hirwani got 16 wickets for 136 runs in his debut match in this stadium.
The nature of the pitch of Chepauk stadium is bouncy which is beneficial to the batsman and the bowlers. This is a dry, spinning, low, flat wicket. Sunil Gavaskar scored his highest test score 236 not out against West Indies in this ground. This stadium played host to the second tied-test in the history of test cricket. Saeed Anwar`s 194 against India is the highest One Day International score in this ground.
Chepauk Stadium has encountered many records, but its atmosphere and crowd are most reputed in the country. The audience gave a standing ovation for the Pakistani team in the year 1999 after they won a very closely fought test match. It is the home ground for the Tamil Nadu cricket team.