by Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is an international cricket stadium in the city of Pune in India and is used to host ODI and Twenty20 matches. The stadium is also known as Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium. The stadium is owned by the Maharashtra Cricket Association and operated by Pune Stadium Limited. The stadium has been established in the year 2012 and has been designed by Hopkins Architects of London. US$4.6 million has been invested in the construction of this stadium. The stadium has a capacity of 55,000 spectators with 166 executive suites.
FACTS
| Opened | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Known as | Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium |
| Location | Pune, India |
| Time Zone | UTC +05:30 |
| Home to | Chennai Super Kings |
| Floodlights | Yes |
Venue Description
The state-of-the-art Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is located at Gahunje on the outskirts of Pune. The ground, also known as Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium, was inaugurated by Sharad Pawar in 2012. Interestingly, it was supposed to be built by 2010, but was not ready to host cricket fixtures until 2012. In fact, it should have been ready in time to host the matches during the 2011 World Cup.
In the past, the Nehru Stadium in Pune was used for international matches. Unfortunately, due to issues related to ticket allocation between the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) and the Pune Municipal Corporation, the MCA took the necessary step of building another ground. For a short time, it was called Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium. However, as the Sahara India Pariwar could not pay the full amount guaranteed to buy the ‘naming rights’ of the stadium, it was again converted into the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
The first international match at the ground was a T20 International played between India and England in December 2012. In 2012, it also hosted its first IPL match, when Pune Warriors India took on Kings XI Punjab.
Notable events
In the 2015 IPL, Punjab Kings decided to move out of Mohali due to the lukewarm response from the audience at their primary home ground. Following the decision, three home matches were played at the MCA Stadium.
In the 2018 IPL, members of some fringe political parties staged protests outside the M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai as well as in several parts of Chennai, to move IPL matches out of the city until the establishment of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). demanded. Directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. Despite tight security for the match against KKR, the Chennai Police expressed their inability to ensure adequate personnel at the venue for the smooth conduct of the remaining games. The MCA Stadium in Pune was chosen to host the remaining six home games of the Chennai Super Kings.
On 28 March 2021, the MCA Stadium completed its 50th competitive match milestone during India vs England 3rd ODI match.
