| Esplanade Maidan Azad Maidan | |
 Picture of the Bombay Gymkhana | |
 Interactive map of Bombay Gymkhana | |
| Ground information | |
|---|---|
| Location | South Mumbai,Maharashtra, India |
| Country | India |
| Establishment | 19 June 1875 |
| Capacity | 15,000 (but has held up to 50,000) |
| Architect | Claude Batley |
| Operator | Bombay Gymkhana |
| Tenants | India national rugby union team Local clubs |
| International information | |
| Only Test | 15–18 December 1933: India v England |
| Only WODI | 16 December 2004: India v Australia |
| As of 12 August 2015 Source:Bombay Gymkhana Ground, ESPNcricinfo | |
TheBombay Gymkhana, established in 1875,[1] is a premierprivate members' club in the city ofMumbai,India.
It is located at the triangular end ofAzad Maidan in theFort area ofSouth Mumbai and is in close proximity ofChhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. It was originally built as a British-onlygentlemen's club, designed by English architect,Claude Batley.[2]
The club grounds offers various sporting facilities for rugby, football, cricket, swimming, tennis, badminton, squash and a fitness centre for its members. The club regularly conducts sporting events and tournaments for its members and admission to the club is reserved by membership. Bombay Gymkhana Rugby Club (rugby union) is a tenant.
A long building which serves as the lobby,table tennis area,badminton court, restaurant and lounge connects the two roads. The region between the building and the lane is a large ground. It is very difficult to get membership into this exclusive club.[3]
Cricket is played here in the winter months, andrugby andfootball in themonsoon months.[4] This used to be major centre for the erstwhileBombay Pentangular cricket matches. The ground had the distinction of hosting India's first homeTest cricket match starting on 15 December 1933,[5] captained byCK Nayudu. Temporary stands were put up at the ground to accommodate a record crowd of 50,000 people, with tickets selling at five times their usual price.[6] The match is remembered forLala Amarnath's century, noted to be one of the best innings played in Indian cricket.[7] The ground has not hosted any senior matches since theBrabourne Stadium took its place in 1937, replacing the ground as the venue for the Bombay Pentangular as well as international matches.[8]
The ground also has the distinction of hosting the first international test cricket match played by the disabled, on 10 December 2002 between India and England. The one-day match was won by India.
TheAustralia national cricket team used the grounds to practice prior to their clash with India at the1996 Cricket World Cup. In 2004, theIndia women's team played aOne Day International versusAustralia at Bombay Gymkhana.[9] In March 2010,Mumbai Indians played a practice match at the ground ahead of theIPL Season.[10] Later in the year,Canada played a match against aBombay Gymkhana team to prepare for the2011 Cricket World Cup.[11]
The ground also hosts a nationalrugby competition, and has hosted matches againstSri Lanka and otherSouth Asian teams as a part of the HSBC Sevens Asia circuit. It has also hosted national and internationalsquash tournaments.[citation needed]
Bombay Gymkhana houses three badminton courts, five squash courts, six tennis courts, six tables for billiards and snooker, one swimming pool and a fitness centre.[1]
Originally, only men could gain membership of the club. Women were able to join from the early 2000s.[citation needed]
In 2016, the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) wanted to widen the adjacent Hazarimal Somani Marg from 50 feet (15 m) to 80 feet (24 m) and required about 5,809 square metres (62,530 sq ft) of land from the Bombay Gymkhana.[12] The gymkhana contested[clarification needed] the proposal stating its heritage status.[1] The Gymkhana has also been allegedly charged for illegally constructing additional buildings including a CEO's bungalow and a wine shop.[13]
This is the list of centuries scored in Test matches at Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai[14]
| No. | Score | Player | Team | Inns. | Opposing team | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 136 | Bryan Valentine | England | 2 | India | 15 December 1933 | Won |
| 2 | 118 | Lala Amarnath | India | 3 | England | 15 December 1933 | Lost |
Two five-wicket hauls in Test matches have been taken at the venue.[15]
| No. | Bowler | Date | Team | Opposing team | Inn | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Econ | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammad Nissar | 15 December 1933 | India | England | 2 | 33.5 | 90 | 5 | 2.66 | Lost |
| 2 | Stan Nichols | 15 December 1933 | England | India | 3 | 23.5 | 55 | 5 | 2.30 | Won |
18°56′14.75″N72°49′52.36″E / 18.9374306°N 72.8312111°E /18.9374306; 72.8312111