Chennai has many icons, landmarks and brands, most of which are decades or centuries old. These include numerous British-era buildings, places of worship and the Marina. A stone’s throw from the seashore stands another icon of Chennai — the Chepauk Stadium, aka M.A Chidambaram Stadium. Established in 1916, it is the oldest cricket stadium in India that is still in use.
Chepauk has witnessed some sensational matches and pulsating finishes. The 1986 test between Australia and India had the spectators on the edge of their seats. Fortunes fluctuated and the match ended in a tie. The India-Pakistan test of 1999 is still fresh in the memory of fans. The match yet again showed to the world why the Chepauk spectators are described as knowledgeable and sporting. When Pakistan won, there was a moment of stunned silence but as the players made their lap of honour around the field, an unseen force propelled the spectators to stand and cheer them on. Here in Chennai, a good game of cricket is all we ask for. Or maybe, it’s the effect Chepauk has on you.
As newer formats came up, Chepauk adapted and became the home to Chennai Super Kings, the youngest and possibly the most successful of Chennai brands, with an international fan base. No one can really explain the phenomenon that CSK is today, not even N. Srinivasan, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, India Cements, the company that won the franchise for the team.
