After thoroughly enjoying the NZ-BAN and PAK-SA matches during the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup in India, I had made a decision to try my best to watch all International matches in Chennai.
There were two main reasons for this:
(1) The Chennai Cricket Fans: Chennai is a very knowledgeable and sporting Cricket location. The fans want to watch good Cricket, whether it is played by India or the opposition. In my experience, from among the generally highly partial Cricket fans/grounds all over India, Chennai is the least partial and hence is the most sporting one. It is a real pleasure to watch the matches in M. A. Chidambaram Cricket Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
(2) The M. A. Chidambaram Stadium: After some renovations, it is a quite nice experience (Please do not compare with Lord’s (England) Etc. 🙂 ). Responsible staff, decently-clean premises, reasonably-priced food and decent restrooms.
Hurrying to the stadium … The day’s play had already started!The view of the ground as I walk towards my Box “C” …Once you enter the stadium premises after the security checks Etc., for the box seating, one has to take a short elevator ride and then walk through corridors like this.Almost there … Walking towards Box “C”.Ashwin had just got out (After an excellent century) when I got to my box.The boxes in the stadium have sofa-seating for 5-6 people in the AC enclosure and also open-air balcony seating for 16-20 people.My Box-C mates and I kept rotating where we sat. Keep in mind that this is a Test Match 🙂 Gotta enjoy it in a leisurely pace. Me watching the action from the sofa …A view from the Box-C entrance.The dude in light-blue Tshirt had come with his two small kids … His Son was obviously a huge Cricket fan. A knowledgeable one at that.Players breaking for lunch … Bangladesh was already in deep trouble, 26-3!One gets Coffee and other cold drinks throughout the day … When I noticed that the staff were setting up the lunch, I decided to have my lunch early (To avoid rush later on). This was my lunch platter (Vegetarian). I liked it. Was quite tasty.People queueing up for Lunch … It was a buffet style lunch.Enjoying the balcony view …People are busy getting their lunch …When you enter, you get a tag like this.Action starts again … Bangladesh gasping in their 1st innings.The coffee machine and the drinks counter. They served Veg Puffs and Coffee during the tea break.Post-lunch play … From the Box-C entrance. The security staff request patrons to not venture too much to other areas. For e.g. Someone with Box-C ticket should stick to that box.Because of his CSK (Chennai Super Kings) connection, Ravindra Jadeja is hugely popular in Chennai. The crowd kept chanting his name and he did acknowledge it with a few waves.Bangladesh 1st innings is almost done … Post-Tea session starts. Bangladesh 112-8.Another popular guy … Shubman Gill!Some fans preferred to watch the action standing up …You can notice people moving into the shaded areas 🙂Bangladesh 1st innings is all done. All-Out for 149, in just 47.1 overs.The Indian dressing room …Bangladesh players coming out for India’s 2nd innings … You can see Yashasvi Jaiswal warming up in the background.Bangladesh players coming out for India’s 2nd innings … You can see Yashasvi Jaiswal warming up in the background.Here comes Indian openers: Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal.Now that India is about to bat, the stands were slowly filling up more …The Superstar of Bangladesh Cricket, one of the best All-Rounders Asia has ever produced, Shakib Al Hasan.I noticed that Virat T-shirts were the most common. Followed by Rohit and Dhoni (Who is revered here for his body of work with CSK).In the late afternoon, it got quite humid in the balcony … So, shifted to the AC enclosure for a while. I left the stadium around 4:40PM, to beat the rush of people at the end of the day’s play.Day-3 was interesting … Woke up at 2:20AM (When I heard the rains) and it was raining cats and dogs! Kept checking weather reports and I was anticipating the day’s play to be washed out. At 09:05, ESPNCricInfo reported that there is zero delay and the play will start on time! That was amazing, a testament to the stadium’s drainage and Super-Soppers. Left for the stadium immediately. Reached Chepauk at 10:08AM and was in my seat by 10:12AM.Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were still there!It was quite a sparse crowd for a Cricket-crazy city like Chennai and that too, when India is batting! Maybe the heavy rains threw people off.Lot of people in Indian T-shirts.My tag for Day-3.Got to see superb batting by Gill and Pant …Got to see superb batting by Gill and Pant …Both of them crossed their 50sNow they moved into the 70s and 80s … Pant has caught up with Gill.Lunch time approaching …A Virat Kohli fan 🙂The lunch platter on Day-3. Again, a superb meal!The great Virat Kohli came out to practice during lunch break … And the crowd went wild.Post-Lunch Session … Gill and Pant come out.Post-Lunch Session … Gill and Pant come out.Rishabh Pant walks back after a glorious century …A view of the balconies of the various “Boxes”Among the “Virat”, “Rohit” and “Dhoni” T-shirts, a “Rahul” T-shirt!? Rahul Dravid or KL Rahul? 🙂India declares at 287-4. Bangladesh openers coming out to try and save the test match. A mammoth target of 515!
