Bombay Gymkhana
{{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
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
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
|Website=www.bombaygymkhana.com
}}
The Bombay Gymkhana, established in 1875,{{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}} 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 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.{{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 }}
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.{{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 }}
Cricket is played here in the winter months, and rugby and football in the monsoon months.{{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}} This used to be major centre for the erstwhile Bombay Pentangular cricket matches. The ground had the distinction of hosting India's first Test cricket match starting on 15 December 1933,{{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}} 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.{{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}} The match is remembered for Lala Amarnath's century, noted to be one of the best innings played in Indian cricket.{{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}} 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.{{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}}
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 team played a One Day International versus Australia at Bombay Gymkhana.{{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}} In March 2010, Mumbai Indians played a practice match at the ground ahead of the IPL Season.{{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}} Later in the year, Canada played a match against a Bombay Gymkhana team to prepare for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.{{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}}
The ground also hosts a national 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 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.
Originally, only men could gain membership of the club. Women were able to join from the early 2000s.{{citation needed|date=October 2015}}
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.{{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|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}} The gymkhana contested{{clarify|date=December 2016}} the proposal stating its heritage status. The Gymkhana has also been allegedly charged for illegally constructing additional buildings including a CEO's bungalow and a wine shop.{{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}}
International centuries
=Tests=
This is the list of centuries scored in Test matches at Bombay Gymkhana, Mumbai{{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}}
| 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.{{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}}
| 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
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 |pages=227–256 |DOI=10.1080/14660970500106410 }}
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