Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is an international cricket stadium situated in Gahunje village on the outskirts of Pune, Maharashtra, India, near the Mumbai–Pune Expressway. It is owned and operated by the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA), which also has its headquarters at the venue, and is the home ground of the Maharashtra men’s and women’s cricket teams.
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Quick Facts
| Location | Gahunje, Pune, Maharashtra |
| Inaugurated | 1 April 2012 |
| Capacity | Reported between approximately 37,000 and 42,700 |
| Owner/Operator | Maharashtra Cricket Association |
| Architect | Michael Hopkins (Hopkins Architects) |
| First T20I | December 2012, India vs England |
| First Test | February 2017, India vs Australia |
History
Before this stadium existed, Pune’s Nehru Stadium hosted MCA’s international matches, but a dispute with the Pune Municipal Corporation over ticket allocations — which led to an India–Sri Lanka match being relocated to Kolkata — prompted the MCA to build its own dedicated venue. Construction began in 2007 at Gahunje, and the stadium was formally inaugurated on 1 April 2012 by then-ICC president Sharad Pawar.
In 2013, Indian conglomerate Sahara India Pariwar acquired the stadium’s naming rights, briefly renaming it the “Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium.” The name reverted to Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium after Sahara failed to pay the full amount promised for the naming rights.
The venue was named one of six new Indian Test venues in November 2015, hosting its first Test in February 2017 — a match in which Steve Smith became the first batsman to score a Test century at the ground, while Steve O’Keefe took six wickets in each innings as Australia won by 333 runs.
Notable Events
- 2023 Cricket World Cup – Hosted five matches, including India vs Bangladesh, its first World Cup fixture.
- 2016 Ranji Trophy Final – Hosted the domestic championship decider.
- 2017–18 Ranji Trophy semi-final – Delhi defeated Bengal by an innings and 26 runs.
- 2023 – Hosted the inaugural season of the Maharashtra Premier League (MPL).
- The venue has served as home ground for multiple IPL franchises over the years, including Pune Warriors India, Rising Pune Supergiant, and (for select matches) Chennai Super Kings.
Records
- Highest Test total: 610/6 declared, India vs Sri Lanka.
- Lowest Test total: 107, South Africa vs India.
- Best Test bowling figures: Ravichandran Ashwin, 8/60.
- Highest individual Test score: Virat Kohli, 254*.
Facilities and Layout
The stadium, shaped like a deep bowl, was designed by British architect Michael Hopkins. Its pitch is known for offering a mix of conditions — often batting-friendly overall, with the black-soil surface providing turn and grip for spinners as matches progress.
Access
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is located near the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, on the outskirts of Pune, and is generally accessed by road from the city centre.
Related Stadiums
- VCA Stadium, Nagpur — a fellow Maharashtra international cricket venue.
- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai and Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai — Maharashtra’s other major cricket grounds.
- Holkar Stadium, Indore — another venue named a new Test venue in 2015.
