ODI World Cup 2023 Venues: MA Chidambaram Stadium Capacity, WC Schedule, Pitch & More

ICC Cricket World Cup: Starting on October 5, as many as 10 different locations in India will host the ODI World Cup 2023. The competition will kick off at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with England taking on New Zealand. Hosts India will begin their campaign against Australia at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. 

Situated in the centre of Chennai, the MA Chidambaram Stadium is getting ready for the biggest cricket match on the globe. Five exciting matches, including the highly-anticipated encounter between Australia and India on October 8, will take place at this site.

ICC ODI WC 2023 games in Chennai

MA Chidambaram Stadium will host five games during the tournament, including India's opening match against Australia. The whole schedule is as follows:

• India vs Australia: 8 October at 02:00 PM (IST)
• New Zealand vs Bangladesh: 13 October at 02:00 PM (IST)
• New Zealand vs Afghanistan: 18 October at 02:00 PM (IST)
• Pakistan vs Afghanistan: 23 October at 02:00 PM (IST)
• Pakistan vs South Africa: 27 October at 02:00 PM (IST)

Also Read: ODI World Cup 2023 Venues: M Chinnaswamy Stadium Capacity, WC Schedule, Pitch & More

History of the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 

Originally named Madras Cricket Club Ground when it first opened in 1916, the stadium is the oldest in India dedicated to cricket. It later had a new name in honour of MA Chidambaram, the former president of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association and the BCCI. This stadium has been the home ground of the Chennai Super Kings since the 2008 IPL season, in addition to being the home ground for the Tamil Nadu cricket team in domestic cricket.

Going back to 1987, this historic site saw a World Cup match between Australia and India, where India lost by a single run. 36 years later, as Chidambaram is ready to host the 2023 ODI World Cup, it's time to revisit those memories as India play Australia in the opening game.

Also Read: ODI World Cup 2023 Venues: Arun Jaitley Stadium Capacity, WC Schedule, Pitch & More

The facilities at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

There are 38,175 seats available at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. There are roughly 25,000 general admission tickets available for purchase out of all the tickets that are available. For internal sales, the BCCI and ICC have allotted about 6,000 of these tickets. The Madras Race Club (MRC) and Madras Cricket Club (MCC) have also set aside a few thousand seats for their respective memberships. Consequently, over 13,000 tickets are still up for grabs for the general public.

• Air-conditioned media centre

• Air-conditioned commentary box  

• Players dressing room (For both home and away teams)

The MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai pitch

Teams batting first have typically enjoyed an edge at the MA Chidambaram Stadium due to its rich record of supporting spin bowlers. The hot, muggy weather in Chennai also contributes to this penchant for batting first and might affect the flow of a game.

This stadium's pitch is a combination of red dirt and clay, which helps spin bowlers while still providing a passable surface for batters to work on. The ground crew is ready to apply anti-dew agents to keep the playing surface level in situations where dew could become an issue, especially for matches played under floodlights during the World Cup. This guarantees that batters and bowlers alike have an equal chance to demonstrate their abilities.

Key facts at MA Chidambaram Stadium

• Total matches hosted: 34
• Matches won batting first: 17
• Matches won bowling first: 16
• Average Ist Innings scores: 224
• Average 2nd Innings scores: 205