Bruce06828 at 06:50, 2 September 2025

2025-09-02T06:50:54Z

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{{Short description|Gymkhana in Mumbai, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox cricket ground
| ground_name = Bombay Gymkhana
| nickname = Esplanade Maidan<br /> Azad Maidan
| image = Bombay-Gymnkhana.jpg
| caption = Picture of the Bombay Gymkhana
| country = India
| location = [[South Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| establishment = 19 June 1875
| seating_capacity = 15,000 (but has held up to 50,000)
| operator = Bombay Gymkhana
| architect = [[Claude Batley]]
| tenants = [[India national rugby union team]]<br /> Local clubs
| international = true
| onlytestdate = 15–18 December
| onlytestyear = 1933
| onlytesthome = India
| onlytestaway = England
| onlywodidate = 16 December
| onlywodiyear = 2004
| onlywodihome = India
| onlywodiaway = Australia
| date = 12 August
| year = 2015
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/ground/58319.html Bombay Gymkhana Ground, ESPNcricinfo
}}
The '''Bombay Gymkhana''', established in 1875,<ref name=IX1>{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/once-upon-a-time-bombay-gymkhana-was-first-club-to-bring-multiple-sports-together-2988064/|title=Once Upon A Time: Bombay Gymkhana was first club to bring multiple sports together|date=21 August 2016|first=Arita|last=Sarkar|newspaper=The Indian Express|access-date=3 September 2018|archive-date=4 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904104050/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/once-upon-a-time-bombay-gymkhana-was-first-club-to-bring-multiple-sports-together-2988064/|url-status=live}}</ref> is a premier [[private members' club]] in the city of [[Mumbai]], [[India]].

It is located at the triangular end of [[Azad Maidan]] in the [[Fort (Mumbai precinct)|Fort]] area of [[South Mumbai]] and is in close proximity of [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]]. It was originally built as a British-only [[gentlemen's club]], designed by English architect, [[Claude Batley]].<ref name= "MD">{{cite news |url=http://www.mid-day.com/news/2004/feb/76552.htm |title=Bombay gymkhana plans to shut kitchens: The History |newspaper=[[Mid-Day]] |access-date=2009-06-17 |archive-date=20 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320044004/http://www.mid-day.com/news/2004/feb/76552.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

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.

==Sports==
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.<ref name="DNA">{{cite news |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/urban-tales_new-clubs-on-the-block_1142189-all |title=New clubs on the block |newspaper=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |access-date=2009-06-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205211712/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/urban-tales_new-clubs-on-the-block_1142189-all |archive-date=5 December 2009 }}</ref>

[[Cricket]] is played here in the winter months, and [[rugby football|rugby]] and [[Association football|football]] in the [[monsoon]] months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.therugbyjournal.com/rugby-blog/india|title=India — Rugby|first1=Paul|last1=Walsh|website=The Rugby Journal|date=16 September 2021|access-date=31 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110013408/https://www.therugbyjournal.com/rugby-blog/india|archive-date=10 November 2023|location=London}}</ref> This used to be major centre for the erstwhile [[Bombay Pentangular]] cricket matches. The ground had the distinction of hosting India's first home [[Test cricket]] match starting on 15 December 1933,<ref>{{cite web |title=Gymkhana Ground: Test Matches |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/ground/58319.html?class=1;template=results;type=aggregate |work=ESPNcricinfo |date=17 June 2011 |access-date=17 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216121104/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/ground/58319.html?class=1%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Daggregate |archive-date=16 December 2011}}</ref> captained by [[CK 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.<ref name=ESPNcricinfo06>{{cite news|title=When Test cricket came to India|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/245528.html|access-date=28 February 2012|newspaper=ESPNcricinfo|date=29 April 2006|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929005529/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/245528.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The match is remembered for [[Lala Amarnath]]'s century, noted to be one of the best innings played in Indian cricket.<ref name=th00>{{cite news|title=Pure romantic, Byron of Indian cricket|url=http://www.hindu.com/2000/08/06/stories/07060282.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915054431/http://www.hindu.com/2000/08/06/stories/07060282.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 September 2013|access-date=28 February 2012|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]|date=6 August 2000}}</ref> The ground has not hosted any senior matches since the [[Brabourne Stadium]] took its place in 1937, replacing the ground as the venue for the Bombay Pentangular as well as international matches.<ref name=raijidossa>{{cite book|last=Anandji Dossa|first=Vasant Raiji|title=CCI & the Brabourne Stadium, 1937–1987|year=1987|publisher=Cricket Club of India|pages=29–30}}</ref>

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.

The [[Australia national cricket team]] used the grounds to practice prior to their clash with India at the [[1996 Cricket World Cup]]. In 2004, the [[India women's national cricket team|India women's team]] played a [[One Day International]] versus [[Australia women's national cricket team|Australia]] at Bombay Gymkhana.<ref name=ESPNcricinfo04>{{cite news|title=Mithali Raj steers India home|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/women/content/story/135977.html|access-date=28 February 2012|newspaper=ESPNcricinfo|date=17 December 2004|archive-date=10 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310040035/http://www.espncricinfo.com/women/content/story/135977.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In March 2010, [[Mumbai Indians]] played a practice match at the ground ahead of the [[2010 Indian Premier League|IPL Season]].<ref name=ESPNcricinfom10>{{cite news|title=Tendulkar rewinds time at the Bombay Gymkhana|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ipl2010/content/story/451310.html|access-date=28 February 2012|newspaper=ESPNcricinfo|date=9 March 2010|archive-date=5 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305151245/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ipl2010/content/story/451310.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Later in the year, [[Canada national cricket team|Canada]] played a match against a ''Bombay Gymkhana'' team to prepare for the [[2011 Cricket World Cup]].<ref name=ESPNcricinfon10>{{cite news|title=Canada to tour India for World Cup preparations|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/canada/content/story/490316.html|access-date=28 February 2012|newspaper=ESPNcricinfo|date=15 November 2010|archive-date=11 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211112050/http://www.espncricinfo.com/canada/content/story/490316.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The ground also hosts a national [[rugby football|rugby]] competition, and has hosted matches against [[Sri Lanka]] and other [[South Asian]] teams as a part of the HSBC Sevens Asia circuit. It has also hosted national and international [[squash (sport)|squash]] tournaments.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}

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.<ref name=IX1 />

Originally, only men could gain membership of the club. Women were able to join from the early 2000s.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}

[[File:Bombay-Gymkhana-flag.svg|thumb|150px|Flag of Bombay Gymkhana]]

== Road widening controversy ==
In 2016, the BMC ([[Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation]]) wanted to widen the adjacent Hazarimal Somani Marg from {{convert|50|ft|m}} to {{convert|80|ft|m}} and required about {{convert|5809|m2|sqft}} of land from the Bombay Gymkhana.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-bmc-wants-6000-sq-m-of-bombay-gymkhana-land/17518154|title=Mumbai: BMC wants 6,000 sq m of Bombay Gymkhana land|date=11 August 2016 |access-date=2016-08-23|archive-date=26 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826045230/http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-bmc-wants-6000-sq-m-of-bombay-gymkhana-land/17518154|url-status=live}}</ref> The gymkhana contested{{clarify|date=December 2016}} the proposal stating its heritage status.<ref name=IX1 /> The Gymkhana has also been allegedly charged for illegally constructing additional buildings including a CEO's bungalow and a wine shop.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bombay-gymkhana-row-ceos-bungalow-wine-shop-built-without-nod-says-collector-2966878/|title=Bombay Gymkhana row: CEO's bungalow, wine shop built without nod, says Collector|date=2016-08-11|access-date=2016-08-23|archive-date=13 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813180049/http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bombay-gymkhana-row-ceos-bungalow-wine-shop-built-without-nod-says-collector-2966878/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==International centuries==

===Tests===

This is the list of centuries scored in Test matches at Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai<ref>{{cite web| url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=189;orderby=start;qualmin1=100;qualval1=batted_score;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings| title=Statistics — Test Matches — Batting Records| access-date=29 August 2019| work=ESPNcricinfo| archive-date=5 October 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005064932/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=189;orderby=start;qualmin1=100;qualval1=batted_score;size=200;template=results;type=batting;view=innings| url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:95%"
|-
! No. !! Score !! Player !! Team !! Inns. !! Opposing team !! Date !! Result
|-
| 1 || 136 || [[Bryan Valentine]] || {{cr|ENG}} || 2 || {{cr|IND}} || 15 December 1933 || Won
|-
| 2 || 118 || [[Lala Amarnath]] || {{cr|IND}} || 3 || {{cr|ENG}} || 15 December 1933 || Lost
|}

==List of five-wicket hauls==
===Tests===
Two five-wicket hauls in Test matches have been taken at the venue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=189;orderby=start;qualmin1=5;qualval1=wickets;size=200;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=7 September 2019|title=Statistics — Test Matches — Bowling Records|archive-date=3 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211003082122/https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/stats/index.html?class=1;filter=advanced;ground=189;orderby=start;qualmin1=5;qualval1=wickets;size=200;template=results;type=bowling;view=innings|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!scope="col" width="38"| No.
!scope="col" width="145"| Bowler
!scope="col" width="220"| Date
!scope="col" width="120"| Team
!scope="col" width="120"| Opposing team
!scope="col" width="60"| Inn
!scope="col" width="82"| Overs
!scope="col" width="70"| Runs
!scope="col" width="60"| Wkts
!scope="col" width="70"| Econ
!scope="col" width="70"| Result
|-
|scope="row"| 1 || [[Mohammad Nissar]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1933|12|15}} || {{cr|IND}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{nts|2}} || {{nts|33.5}} || {{nts|90}} || {{nts|5}} || {{nts|2.66}} || Lost
|-
|scope="row"| 2 || [[Stan Nichols]] || {{dts|format=dmy|1933|12|15}} || {{cr|ENG}} || {{cr|IND}} || {{nts|3}} || {{nts|23.5}} || {{nts|55}} || {{nts|5}} || {{nts|2.30}} || Won
|}

==See also==
*[[List of Test cricket grounds]]
*[[One-Test wonder]]
*[[List of India's gentlemen's clubs]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970500106410?journalCode=fsas20 |title=Regionalism and club domination: Growth of rival centres of footballing excellence |publisher=Taylor & Francis |date=6 August 2006 |access-date=1 March 2023 |archive-date=1 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301202832/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14660970500106410?journalCode=fsas20 |journal=Soccer & Society |volume=6:2–3 |issue=2–3 |pages=227–256 |doi=10.1080/14660970500106410 |url-access=subscription }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bombay Gymkhana}}
*[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/14/1141.html ESPNcricinfo Website - Ground Page]
*[http://coachcyrus.wordpress.com/2006/11/06/bombay-gymkhana-maharashtra-state-open-squash-championship/ HSBC Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open Squash Championship 2006 Results]
*[http://www.bombaygymkhana.com/ Club website]
*[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Grounds/14/1141.html cricketarchive Website - Ground Page]

{{coord|18|56|14.75|N|72|49|52.36|E|type:landmark_scale:3000_region:IN|display=title}}

{{List of cricket grounds in India}}
{{Test cricket grounds in India}}
{{Sports Clubs in Mumbai}}

[[Category:Sports venues in Mumbai]]
[[Category:Cricket grounds in Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Clubs and societies in India]]
[[Category:1875 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in India]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1875]]

Bombay Gymkhana - Revision history

Bruce06828 at 06:50, 2 September 2025