Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium: 50 years of hosting test matches; 25th Test match today

Bengaluru: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru is set to celebrate a dual milestone during the India-New Zealand Test match. First, it marks 50 years since the stadium hosted its first Test match. Additionally, it will host its 25th Test match on this occasion.

The first-ever Test match at the stadium was played from November 22 to 27, 1974, against the West Indies. Notably, cricket legends Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards made their Test debuts in this match, a moment of pride for Bengaluru. However, it was a bitter memory for India, as Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi’s team faced a massive defeat by 267 runs against Clive Lloyd’s West Indies side.

India’s 5th Venue to Host 25 Tests

Chinnaswamy Stadium is India’s fifth venue to host 25 Test matches. The record for the highest number of Test matches hosted in India is held by Eden Gardens in Kolkata, with 42 Tests. Chennai’s M.A. Chidambaram Stadium and Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla (now Arun Jaitley Stadium) have each hosted 35 Tests, while Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium has hosted 26.

Mumbai holds the record for hosting the most Test matches in a single city, with 26 at Wankhede Stadium and 18 at Brabourne Stadium, for a total of 44 Tests.

Lords Holds the World Record

Globally, Lord’s Cricket Ground in London holds the record for hosting the most Test matches, with 147 matches played there. Other stadiums that have hosted over 100 Test matches include Melbourne (116), Sydney (112), and The Oval (107).