Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Chennai)


Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in Chennai, India. It has a capacity to seat 40,000 people. It hosts football matches and athletic competitions. The complex also houses a multipurpose indoor stadium with a seating capacity of 5,000 which hosts volleyball, basketball, table tennis games. The stadium is also used for functions and concerts. The stadium is named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The stadium earlier hosted cricket Test matches between 1956 and 1965. As of 19 August 2017 it has hosted 9 Tests.
The stadium is located at Sydenhams Road, Park Town behind the Chennai Central suburban railway station and the Ripon Building. Tamil Nadu football team, which plays in Santosh Trophy and Chennaiyin FC, the Indian Super League team representing the city, use the stadium as its home ground.

History

The stadium was built on the area where the old Madras Zoo was located before it was shifted to its present location in
at Vandalur. It was built in 1993 at a cost of in 234 days. In 2012, the Government of Tamil Nadu renovated the indoor stadium at a cost of with a new skating rink. In 2013, Government of Tamil Nadu upgraded the synthetic athletics track, football turf, floodlights and upgrading added a warm up track north of the stadium at a cost of.
In 1993, this stadium in Chennai hosted the Nehru Cup international tournament. It has also hosted the SAF Games football in 1995, and the Jayalalitha Gold Cup international women's tournament, and many pre-Olympic and pre-world cup matches.
The Nehru stadium at Chennai is considered the most favored venue for any international fixture since this stadium is the only football facility in the country which has come up in keeping with the FIFA specifications with regard to the players’ facility, the dressing rooms and security aspects to name a few important parameters.
Back in the eighties the then Corporation stadium used to witness houseful audience for even the city league matches. When C.R. Viswanathan, then the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Football Association, was keen on bringing the Nehru Cup international football tournament to Chennai, a stadium of international standard was required. He approached late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa with a plan to convert the old Nehru stadium into a brand new ultra-modern facility. The Chief Minister gave her approval and in January 1993 the competition was conducted successfully and the city acquired a facility that was acknowledged to be arguably the best in the country also doubling up as a track and field venue.

Facilities

The stadium has a seating capacity of 40,000 with a 400m 8-lane synthetic athletics track and a natural football turf. There is an indoor stadium with a seating capacity of 5000 associated with the stadium. Two Beach Volleyball courts, three clay Volleyball courts, one Throw ball court, one Kabaddi field and one Handball court are also available in the complex. There are also facilities for Judo, Weightlifting, Table Tennis, Boxing, Chess and Carrom besides a Fitness Center and a conference hall. The indoor stadium hosts various functions and concerts.

Events

The stadium hosted nine cricket Test matches between 1956 and 1965. In 1998, it hosted the World Volleyball Grand Prix tournament.

Records

Football

The highest goal scoring match in Indian Super League with 6 goals between Chennaiyin FC and Mumbai City FC on 28 October 2014 in the 2014 Indian Super League season.

Cricket

The highest test cricket scores were made by West Indies cricket team with 600–9 and 537–9. The most runs scored here was by Vijay Manjrekar, Chandu Borde and Budhi Kunderan. The most wickets taken here was by Bapu Nadkarni, Salim Durani and Subhash Gupte.
Highest opening stand of 413 runs was recorded here by MH Mankad and P Roy against New Zealand.

List of Five Wicket Hauls

Tests

12 five wicket hauls in Test matches have been taken at the venue.
No.BowlerDateTeamOpposing teamInnOversRunsWktsEconResult
1Subhash Gupte6 1 1956249725Won
2Richie Benaud19 10 19561727Won
3Ray Lindwall19 10 19563437Won
4Richie Benaud13 1 19602435Won
5Haseeb Ahsan13 1 19612842026Drawn
6Salim Durani10 1 19622361056Won
7Tony Lock10 1 19623656Lost
8Fred Titmus10 1 19641501165Lost
9Chandu Borde10 1 19642885Won
10Bapu Nadkarni2 10 1964118315Lost
11Graham McKenzie2 10 19642586Won
12Bapu Nadkarni2 10 19643916Lost