The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium (MCA Stadium) is located in Pune, Maharashtra, and is one of the most advanced cricket stadiums in India. This stadium is known for its worldwide attractively unique bowl-shape and matchless first-class facilities. It is a venue where remarkable cricket matches have been played. MCA Stadium will host a number of historic and memorable Test matches, One Day Internationals, T20 Internationals, as well as IPL matches. The Maharashtra cricket team and the Maharashtra women’s cricket team both use this space as their home ground, and the MCA also organizes several district and local level tournaments from the venue. Spectators not only enjoy world-class cricket but also breathtaking views of the hills trending all around them, and the flat, eight-layered, half-bowl structure is capable of seating up to 45,000 spectators and is one of the premiere destinations for cricketing devotees.
History of Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune had been without a proper international-grade cricket stadium for some time, given the lack of facility and other issues related to using Nehru stadium to host international matches. Given these limitations, the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) set the course of action to design and build a new modern-day stadium in Pune on the city’s outskirts to bring Pune up to modern-day international standards of stadiums.
The stadium design would be provided by Indian based firm Shashi Prabhu & Associates. The construction phase began with the overarching theme of developing a world-class venue in Pune that provided state of the art facilities while integrating sustainable features such as rainwater drainage and sand-based outfields.
The stadium was inaugurated by then BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar in April 2012. The very first match played in the stadium was an Indian Premier League (IPL) between Pune Warriors India and Kings XI Punjab, establishing a new era of cricket in Pune.
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium- Event History
Since its opening, the MCA Stadium has become a regular venue for both international and domestic matches.
- First IPL Match: You are correct. The first IPL match at the stadium was between Pune Warriors India and Kings XI Punjab in April 2012.
- First T20I Match: Your information is correct. The first T20I match was indeed between India and England in December 2012.
- First Test Match: This is also correct. The first Test match was a game between India and Australia in February 2017.
2023 ICC Cricket World Cup: The MCA Stadium did host five matches during the 2023 World Cup, and one of them was the match between India and Bangladesh.
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium/MCA- Overview
Located at a strategic site beside the Pune-Mumbai Expressway in Gahunje village, the stadium ensures accessibility for fans commuting from nearby cities. Placed at 800 meters above the sea level on the Deccan Plateau, the venue fills its days with unusual playing conditions, wonderful weather, and scenic beauty.
The prominent architectural attribute of the stadium is the deeply walled site where the stands slope down to the pitch. Natural airflow and daylight penetrate through the gaps between stands to keep the playing surface fresh and well-ventilated.
Maharashtra Cricket Association MCA Overview
Location– Gahunje, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Established – 2012 Architect Shashi Prabhu & Associates (some sources also mention Michael Hopkins, but Shashi Prabhu is more widely cited as the principal architect for the design)
Seating Capacity – 42,700
Home Teams Maharashtra Cricket Team, Maharashtra Women’s Team
- First IPL Match Pune Warriors India vs Kings XI Punjab (2012)
- First T20I Match India vs England (2012)
- First Test Match India vs Australia (2017)
Major Event Hosted 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup (5 matches)
Read more: GT vs MI Head-to-Head Record in IPL Rivalry History
MCA Stadium Established in 2012
The MCA Stadium, which was opened in 2012, is a contemporary cricket stadium focusing on the players, as well as the spectator experience. It was built with considerable attention to high-quality turf and world class, sand-based drainage system that allows play to start up quickly after a rainfall event.
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the MCA Stadium is generally considered to be a balanced one, offering players something in both directions whether familiar with bat or ball. For limited overs matches, the pitch is considered to be batting-friendly, as the true bounce and pace allows batters to play shots freely wherever they feel comfortable. However, over the course of a T20 or 50-overs game, and in longer formats, there will be periods where the pitch offers average spinners something.
The average first-innings totals at the venue are as follows:
- ODIs: roughly, 300
- T20Is: roughly, 166
Infrastructure of MCA Stadium
MCA Stadium is recognized for its modern and sustainable infrastructure.
- Capacity; On the other hand, the seating capacity is approximately 42,700 (not 45,000). The seats are arranged in elliptical-shaped tiers (upper and lower), which provides excellent sightlines from all seating areas.
- Drainage system for rainwater: The use of a sand-based outfield with a multi-layered drainage system is one of the features of this technology that allows rapid draining of water to enable play to begin as soon as possible as the rain has stopped.
- Stadium Roof: Your information is correct. Approximately 25% of the available seating has a roof covering, utilizing a lightweight steel/tensile membrane system to provide shade for spectators while permitting airflow.
- Parking Facilities: The stadium has parking for 2,000 cars and 10,000 two-wheelers on match days.
- Media & Hospitality: The northern end of the stadium features a media stand for approximately 250 journalists (and a hospitality area with roughly 80 hospitality boxes for premium guests).
Read Also: England Cricket Team vs Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Timeline
MCA Stadium, Pune: Records and Stats
| Category | Record / Stats | Details |
| Overall Matches Hosted | Total Matches: 74 | (As of late 2024, includes 2 Tests, 12 ODIs, 4 T20Is, and 51 IPL matches) |
| IPL – Team Records | Highest Team Total: 211/4 | By Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Daredevils (2018) |
| Lowest Team Total: 73 all out | By Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiant (2017) | |
| Highest Successful Chase: 196/7 | By Gujarat Lions vs Rising Pune Supergiant (2016) | |
| IPL – Individual Records | Highest Individual Score: 106 | By Shane Watson (Chennai Super Kings) vs Rajasthan Royals (2018) |
| Best Bowling Figures: 4/10 | By Lungi Ngidi (Chennai Super Kings) vs Kings XI Punjab (2018) | |
| International – Team Records | Highest ODI Total: 357/4 | By South Africa vs New Zealand (2023) |
| Highest Test Total: 601/5d | By India vs South Africa (2019) | |
| International – Individual Records | Highest ODI Score: 177* | By Mitchell Marsh (Australia) vs Bangladesh (2023) |
| Highest Test Score: 254* | By Virat Kohli (India) vs South Africa (2019) | |
| India’s Performance at Venue | ODIs: Won 4, Lost 3 | (As of late 2023) |
| T20Is: Won 2, Lost 2 | (As of early 2025) | |
| Tests: Won 1, Lost 1 | (As of late 2024) | |
| Pitch & General Stats | Average 1st Innings ODI Score: ~304 | (High-scoring venue, especially recently) |
| Average 1st Innings T20I Score: ~169 | ||
| Matches Won Batting First (IPL): 54.9% | Pitch tends to favor teams batting first in T20s. |
Nearby Tourist Attractions
If you are visiting Pune for a match, here are some popular nearby attractions to explore, with more accurate distances from the MCA Maharashtra Cricket Association stadium:
| Attraction | Approximate Distance from MCA Stadium |
| Sinhagad Fort | 55 – 60 km |
| Shaniwar Wada | 25 – 30 km |
| Aga Khan Palace | 30 – 35 km |
| Lonavala Hill Station | 45 – 50 km |
| Pataleshwar Cave Temple | 25 – 30 km |
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune: Location and Map
Read Also: Virat Kohli Highest Score in IPL: A Batting Record, Stats
Final Thoughts
The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium is not just a cricket stadium but a signature of contemporary sports architecture in India. The combination of its internationally standard facilities, picturesque management of location, and cricketing history provides a perennial favorite for players and the audience alike. The MCA Stadium provides an exhilarating cricketing experience whether hosting an IPL match or World Cup game.
FAQs
1. What is the seating capacity of the MCA Stadium?
The MCA Stadium has an official seating capacity of 42,700 spectators. This capacity is sufficient to accommodate a huge crowd for any international or domestic contest.
2. Who designed the MCA Stadium, and when was it established?
With the Indian firm Shashi Prabhu & Associates as the designers, the stadium was officially established in 2012 and a premier cricket venue in India since then.
3. What is the MCA Stadium pitch known for?
The pitch is usually considered to be balanced. In general, it favors the batting side because of true bounce and pace, and maybe it helps spinners later during the progress of the game in the longer format. The sand-based outfield is one of the features helping fast water drainage.
4. Which teams use the MCA Stadium as their home ground?
The MCA Stadium is the home ground of the Maharashtra Cricket Team and the Maharashtra Women’s Cricket Team. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) also maintain their headquarters here. It has also functioned as a temporary home for a few IPL franchises through the years, namely, Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiant.
