Bombay Gymkhana

The Bombay Gymkhana, established in 1875,^[1] is a premier private members' club in the city of Mumbai, India.

Bombay Gymkhana

Esplanade Maidan Azad Maidan
Picture of the Bombay Gymkhana
Ground information
Location	South Mumbai, Maharashtra, 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

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.^[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.

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.^[3]

Cricket is played here in the winter months, and rugby and football in the monsoon months.^[4] 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,^[5] 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.^[6] The match is remembered for Lala 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 the Brabourne 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.

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.^[9] In March 2010, Mumbai Indians played a practice match at the ground ahead of the IPL Season.^[10] Later in the year, Canada played a match against a Bombay Gymkhana team to prepare for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.^[11]

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]}

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]}

Flag of Bombay Gymkhana

Road widening controversy

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]

International centuries

Tests

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

List of five-wicket hauls

Tests

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

See also

• List of Test cricket grounds
• One-Test wonder
• List of India's gentlemen's clubs

References

1. Sarkar, Arita (21 August 2016). "Once Upon A Time: Bombay Gymkhana was first club to bring multiple sports together". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
2. "Bombay gymkhana plans to shut kitchens: The History". Mid-Day. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
3. "New clubs on the block". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 5 December 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
4. Walsh, Paul (16 September 2021). "India — Rugby". The Rugby Journal. London. Archived from the original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
5. "Gymkhana Ground: Test Matches". ESPNcricinfo. 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
6. "When Test cricket came to India". ESPNcricinfo. 29 April 2006. Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
7. "Pure romantic, Byron of Indian cricket". The Hindu. 6 August 2000. Archived from the original on 15 September 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
8. Anandji Dossa, Vasant Raiji (1987). CCI & the Brabourne Stadium, 1937–1987. Cricket Club of India. pp. 29–30.
9. "Mithali Raj steers India home". ESPNcricinfo. 17 December 2004. Archived from the original on 10 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
10. "Tendulkar rewinds time at the Bombay Gymkhana". ESPNcricinfo. 9 March 2010. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
11. "Canada to tour India for World Cup preparations". ESPNcricinfo. 15 November 2010. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
12. "Mumbai: BMC wants 6,000 sq m of Bombay Gymkhana land". Archived from the original on 26 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
13. "Bombay Gymkhana row: CEO's bungalow, wine shop built without nod, says Collector". 11 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
14. "Statistics — Test Matches — Batting Records". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 5 October 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2019.
15. "Statistics — Test Matches — Bowling Records". ESPNcricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 October 2021. Retrieved 7 September 2019.

Further reading

• "Regionalism and club domination: Growth of rival centres of footballing excellence". Soccer & Society. 6:2–3. Taylor & Francis: 227–256. 6 August 2006. doi:10.1080/14660970500106410. Archived from the original on 1 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.

External links

• ESPNcricinfo Website - Ground Page
• HSBC Bombay Gymkhana Maharashtra State Open Squash Championship 2006 Results
• Club website
• cricketarchive Website - Ground Page

18°56′14.75″N 72°49′52.36″E