M. Chinnaswamy Stadium: History, Pitch and Famous Matches

The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is the principal cricket ground of Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka. Run by the Karnataka State Cricket Association, it is home to Karnataka in domestic cricket and to the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The ground has a reputation as one of the best places in India to watch big hitting.

History

The stadium was built in the late 1960s and is named after M. Chinnaswamy, a long-serving president of the Karnataka association. It staged its first Test in 1974. Located close to Cubbon Park in the centre of the city, it has been renovated several times to modernise its stands and facilities.

Pitch and conditions

Chinnaswamy has long been known as a batters’ ground. The pitch is usually flat with good bounce, the outfield is fast and the boundaries are relatively short, so bowlers are under pressure. Seamers can find help early on when there is cloud cover, and spinners can come into the game on a worn surface in Tests, but in limited-overs games the ground often produces very large totals. Bengaluru’s altitude and cooler evenings can also help the ball carry.

Memorable matches

In the 1996 World Cup, India beat Pakistan here in a famous quarter-final. During the 2011 World Cup, India and England finished level on 338 in a thrilling tie in the group stage. In April 2013 Chris Gayle scored an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors India, which remains the highest individual score in the history of the IPL. The ground has also hosted Tests that have gone down to the final day, including recent matches against Australia and Bangladesh.

The IPL base

The stadium is closely tied to the Royal Challengers franchise and to its supporters, who regularly fill the stands. The name of the team changed from Royal Challengers Bangalore to Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the 2024 season, reflecting the city’s official English name.