For eight months at the legendary MA Chidambaram Stadium, the loud screeching of JCBs, jacks and loaders rang out instead of the sweet sound of the ball meeting the flesh of the cricket bat.
But the whole exercise resulted in a beautiful outfield and drainage system just in time ICC T20 World Cup.
So why did the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA) decide to undertake such a time-consuming venture with the World Cup around the corner?
“See, the last time we did this field was in 2011 I guess, so it’s been quite a while. So this whole exercise has taken us some 8 months from June (2025),” TNCA Secretary U Bhagwandas Rao told PTI.
“We’ve dug up all the soil, removed all the old pipes. So it’s going to be filled with gravel, river sand and then the actual grass that you see,” he added.
Along with reloading the outfield and carrying out regular maintenance work, Rao said, upgrading the drainage system had an important place.
“In between all of that, we changed and completely upgraded the entire sewage system for the stadium, including the engines, sprinkler systems, sewage flow from the stadium, everything that was changed.
“So it took us about seven months and then we finished it with the synthetic running track. So it’s more or less done, but the goals haven’t changed, all the old 9 pitches apart from normal yearly maintenance,” he described.
Rao said the rains late last year also helped gain some momentum for repairs.
“The drainage is exceptional. We didn’t expect it to be this good. The rains in November helped a lot, too. You know, nothing like a natural test of all this equipment. It actually sped up the grass a little bit after planting. I think that helped a lot – the two weeks of heavy rains we had,” he noted.
Rao said the International Cricket Council (ICC) also thoroughly inspected the outfield and the drainage system before giving the thumbs up.
“You see, the ICC, when they came, they said it was exceptional. They had no problem. Everyone liked the stadium and the facilities.
“Infrastructure like pavilion, gates, exits, other common areas, yes… all these have been completely rebuilt in the last 4-5 years. Of course, Hari (Harihara, TNCA spokesperson) was efficient in his coordination, which made our job much easier,” he said.
Rao also said that the work at Chepauk has helped the TNCA pay more attention to the district grounds, where the association now regularly hosts Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) matches.
“This work actually started three years ago when the previous administration took over. I think one of the primary goals or visions was to develop infrastructure in the districts. They should not keep coming back to Chennai because most of the talent comes from the districts.
“So the plan was to have these satellite centers that have practice facilities, networks and complete residential facilities. So we have one in Tirupur, in Salem, in Coimbatore and in Theni. We have chambers in Natham (Dindigul).
“Everyone has done exceptionally well. So all our state teams, whenever they play board games, we stay in our own facilities. It has also helped the women cricketers. You know this residential thing is much better for them because it is safer for them. Now many parents have also told us that they feel very good mentally,” he added.
Rao said the TNCA is open to extending these facilities to cricketers from across the country or even outside.
“All these facilities have been given so much care that outside state associations have now come and seen these facilities, including the MCA. Mumbai wants to use the facilities whenever there are two months of monsoon.
“I’ve been told that some foreign labels also want to come and play here. So the idea is that it’s not just for us, but we want to provide these facilities to as many talents as possible. But the Center of Excellence (TNCA) will be very much in Chennai and all messages to the TNCA Academy,” he explained.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 7, 2026