M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, also known as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Stadium, is a cricket stadium located in the heart of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. It is owned by the Government of Karnataka and operated by the Karnataka State Cricket Association under a 100-year lease. The stadium is the home ground of the Karnataka cricket team and the IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
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Quick Facts
| Location | Mahatma Gandhi Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| Foundation laid | 1969; construction began 1970 |
| First used | 1972–73 season (first-class cricket) |
| Capacity | Approximately 40,000 |
| Owner | Government of Karnataka (leased to KSCA) |
| Home team(s) | Karnataka cricket team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (IPL) |
| First Test | 22–27 November 1974, India vs West Indies |
History
The land for the stadium was allotted by the Government of Karnataka in 1969 in the prime M. G. Road area of Bengaluru, following efforts led by M. Chinnaswamy, a lawyer from Mandya who served as a long-time administrator of Karnataka cricket and was President of the BCCI from 1977 to 1980. The ground was originally known as the Karnataka State Cricket Association Stadium before being renamed in his honour.
The first Test at the venue, played in November 1974, marked the Test debuts of West Indian batsmen Viv Richards and Gordon Greenidge; West Indies, led by Clive Lloyd, won by 256 runs. India recorded its first Test win at the venue against England in 1976–77.
The stadium underwent renovation in 1996 ahead of hosting a high-profile World Cup match between India and Pakistan. It has since become known for its pioneering sustainability initiatives — it was the first cricket stadium in the world to use solar panels for a significant share of its electricity needs, part of the KSCA’s self-funded “Go Green” programme. A water purification and aeration/drainage system was added between 2016 and 2017 to reduce rain-related delays.
Since 2000, the stadium has also housed the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy.
Notable Events
- 2008 – Hosted the first-ever IPL match.
- 2018 – Afghanistan played their inaugural Test match at this venue, shortly after being granted Test status.
- 2024 – India vs Afghanistan T20I featured the sport’s only double-super-over finish, in what is considered the longest T20I ever played, with Rohit Sharma scoring a century.
- 1996 – Hosted the Miss World pageant, its first time being held in India.
- June 2025 – A crowd crush during IPL celebrations resulted in fatalities, after which the stadium was withdrawn from hosting large gatherings, affecting its IPL 2026 and Women’s World Cup 2025 hosting status.
Records
- Known as one of India’s most batting-friendly venues, owing to a fast outfield and comparatively short boundaries.
- High-scoring matches are common across formats; ODI totals above 300 have been recorded numerous times at the ground.
- The venue has hosted over 100 IPL matches, among the most of any IPL venue.
Facilities and Layout
The stadium has 15 stands and entrances, labelled P1, P2, P3, A, B, C, D, F, G, H, M1, M2, N, S, and T. Its distinctive red-and-yellow colour scheme reflects both the RCB team colours and the Karnataka state flag. It is flanked by Cubbon Park and the MG Road business district.
Access
The stadium is centrally located in Bengaluru, roughly 35 km from Kempegowda International Airport, and is accessible via the Cubbon Park metro station.
Related Stadiums
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai — fellow south Indian venue with a passionate IPL fan base.
- Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad — another major South Zone cricket venue.
- Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram — one of India’s newest South Zone stadiums.
- Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi — comparable in age and IPL significance.
