M. Chinnaswamy Stadium: The Beating Heart of Cricket in Bangalore
Located in the center of Bengaluru, The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium stands as a testament for India’s rich cricket heritage. The atmosphere of its electrification, with iconic matches and a pitch that has been seen collapsing both sixes and dramatic, this stadium is more than just one site – it is a feeling for cricket enthusiasts.
Location and incorporation
Located on Cuban Road, adjacent to the lush Cuban Park and MG Road,The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium offers a unique mix of urban energy and natural beauty. Established in 1969 and officially inaugurated in 1970, it was initially known as the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Stadium. In 1977, it was renamed as former BCCI president and an important person in Karnataka Cricket in honour of Mangalam Chinnaswamy.
Architectural Marvel and Pavilions
With a seating capacity of approximately 40,000, the stadium boasts state-of-the-art facilities. The two primary ends are:
- Pavilion End
- BEML End
These pavilions have witnessed countless memorable moments, from debut centuries to match-winning spells.
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Unique features and sustainability
The set of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is its commitment to stability. It was the first cricket stadium in the world to exploit solar energy to provide electricity to its floodlights. Additionally, its advanced rainfall harvesting system ensures minimum match disruption during the monsoon season, which is a will for its environmentally friendly initiative.
Pitch Report: A batsman’s heaven
The pitch at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is famous for its batting -friendly nature, especially in limited over cricket. The combination of a flat surface and small boundaries makes it a shelter site for batsmen. However, in test matches, such as the game moves, spinners often help, which makes the fourth innings especially challenging for batsmen.
- Test Matches: Early assistance for pacers; spinners come into play from Day 3 onwards.
- ODIs: High-scoring encounters with an average first innings score of around 280-300.
- T20s/IPL: A run-fest with average first innings scores hovering between 165-175.
Pitch and Playing Conditions
Batting Paradise.
The M. Chinnaswamy wicket is renowned for being batsman-friendly. Short boundaries and a high-altitude location make it a “heaven for batters” in limited-overs formats cricbuzz.com. The outfield is lightning-quick, so even modest shots often race to the ropes. As one analysis notes, teams batting first regularly post 180+ totals in T20s and frequently chase them down. Historically, scores at Bangalore have been high: Test totals frequently exceed 500, and ODI innings often cross 300. The pitch offers consistent bounce, so batsmen can trust their strokeplay. In short, Chinnaswamy has long been considered a batting paradise, especially in white-ball games.
Bowling and Conditions.
However, this does not mean bowlers are helpless. The venue provides enough pace and bounce to keep seamers interested. Unlike many flat Indian tracks, Bangalore can assist pace bowlers on days 3–5 of Tests. Spinners tend to take fewer wickets here than pacers . Since 2015, the outfield was upgraded and drainage improved, so rain delays are less frequent Interestingly, in the 2025 IPL season pundits noted the traditionally high-scoring pitch had slowed down a bit, making run-scoring a tad more challenging In summary, M. Chinnaswamy offers an overall batting-friendly track, though swing and bounce give bowlers something to work with on good days.
Records and Highest/Lowest Scores
M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has seen some enormous team scores and also surprisingly low totals. Key record innings include:
- Test Cricket: Highest innings total is 626 all out by India vs Pakistan in 2007 (Pakistan had scored 570 in response in that match.) The lowest completed Test innings is 46 all out (New Zealand vs India, 2024). Other famously low totals include 103 (by Afghanistan vs India, 2018)
- One-Day Internationals (ODIs): The highest ODI total is 410/4 by India against the Netherlands in 2023. The lowest completed ODI innings is 114/10 (India Women vs South Africa Women, 2022) (For men’s ODIs, 137/10 by India vs Australia in 2006 was once the low mark.)
- T20 Internationals: India’s highest T20I total at Chinnaswamy is 202/6 vs England (2013) The lowest is 99/10 (South Africa Women vs New Zealand Women, 2018) The highest successful chase was 194/3 (Australia vs India, 2023)
- Indian Premier League (IPL/T20): RCB’s 263/5 against Pune Warriors in 2013 (Chris Gayle’s 175*) is the highest team T20 score ever at any ground my11circle.com. That same match features the highest T20 innings (175* by Gayle). The lowest IPL total at the venue is 82 all out by RCB vs KKR in 2008. (Indeed, Chinnaswamy has hosted IPL games almost every year since 2008, with 99 matches to date
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These records underline the batting-friendly nature of the venue – but the surprises (like the 46 all out or RCB’s 82) show bowlers can have their day too. A quick summary of some team record highs and lows :
- Highest Test Score: 626/10 by IND vs PAK (2007).
- Lowest Test Score: 46/10 by NZ vs IND (2024)
- Highest ODI Score: 410/4 by IND vs NED (2023)
- Lowest ODI Score: 114/10 by IND-W vs RSA-W (2022)
- Highest T20I Score: 202/6 by IND vs ENG (2013)
- Lowest T20I Score: 99/10 by RSA-W vs NZ-W (2018)
- Highest IPL Score: 263/5 by RCB vs PWI (2013)
- Lowest IPL Score: 82/10 by RCB vs KKR (2008)
Notable Performances and Records
Many legendary individual performances have taken place here:
- Sachin Tendulkar famously scored 120 during India’s 338 in the tied 2011 World Cup match vs England He also made 214 in a Test vs England (2008) at this ground.
- Sourav Ganguly made 239 vs Pakistan (2007), the highest score by an Indian left-hander at Chinnaswamy en.wikipedia.org.
- Rahul Dravid’s Legacy: While Dravid didn’t break records on the field here, he is immortalized by the brick wall and stands named in his honor. In 2017 he became the first player to score 10,000 Test runs at this venue (against England) – an honor KSCA celebrated with plaques and the wall my11circle.com.
- Rohit Sharma exploded for 209 (the first of his three ODI double-hundreds) against Australia in a 2013 ODI here my11circle.com.
- Kevin O’Brien (Ireland) shocked the world by hitting a 50-ball hundred against England during the 2011 World Cup at Bengaluru, sealing Ireland’s upset win. This remains the fastest century in World Cup history.
- Chris Gayle rewrote T20 history here with an unbeaten 175 off 66 balls for RCB in 2013(the highest individual T20 score ever). In that innings, RCB scored 263/5, the highest-ever T20 team total.
- Aussie Pace Kings: Bowlers have shone too. Nathan Lyon took 8/50 (Australia vs India, 2017), the best Test innings figures on this ground. Harbhajan Singh’s match figures of 11/224 (vs England, 2004) are the best Test match haul here. In ODIs, Anil Kumble once took 6/28 against Australia (1997) at the venue.
Memorable Matches
Several classic encounters have unfolded at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium :
- India vs. England (CWC 2011 ODI): A tied World Cup game where both teams made 338, one of only two ties in World Cup history.
- India vs. Bangladesh (2016 T20 World Cup): A last-ball thriller won by India, who defended a one-run margin
- India vs. Pakistan (CWC 1996 ODI QF): A high-pressure quarter-final under lights, adding to the stadium’s legacy.
- Royal Challengers vs. Pune (IPL 2013): RCB’s massive 263/5 total, propelled by Gayle’s 175*, remains an IPL (and all-time T20) milestone.
Home of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has been a fort for RCB since the establishment of IPL in 2008. The emotional fanbase, often referred to as a “12th man”, transforms the stadium into a red sea, leading to a scared atmosphere to visit teams.
Weather and sports conditions
The medium climate of Bengaluru ensures a pleasant game position throughout the year. However, the city is known for sudden rainfall. Thanks to the stadium’s efficient drainage system, the game may resume quickly after the rain blocks, reduces the delay.
Match count and venue stats
By 2023, M. The Chinnaswamy Stadium has hosted 24 Test matches, 26 Odis, 8 T20, and around 100 IPL games (RCB has played its 99th IPL match here in April 2025. It is one of the busiest cricket venues in India. . Test cricket began here in 1974, ODI cricket in 1982, and the first T20I only in 2012 (India vs. Pakistan on Dec 25, 2012). In all these games combined, the stadium has become known for its high average scores (first-innings ODI average is around 246.) and fan-friendly environment – the crowd is right on top of the action.
Some Faqs
1. Is M. Chinnaswamy Stadium a batting or bowling pitch?
The pitch at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium is generally batting-friendly, especially in limited-overs formats, due to its flat surface and short boundaries. However, it can offer turn to spinners in Test matches as the game progresses.
2. What is the highest score at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL?
The highest individual score at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL is 175* by Chris Gayle for RCB against Pune Warriors India in 2013.
3. What is the seating capacity of M. Chinnaswamy Stadium?
The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium can accommodate approximately 40,000 spectators.
4. Which IPL team plays at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium?
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) use M. Chinnaswamy Stadium as their home ground in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
