The awe-inspiring touch of history is unmistakable the moment you step into the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai through the V Pattabhiraman Gate. This venue has been the spiritual home of South Indian cricket since 1916 when Presidency matches were staged. Since then the stadium has only grown in stature.

Chepauk, the popular name of this venue, hosted its first Test in 1933-34 when Douglas Jardine led England against CK Nayudu's India. The first-ever Ranji Trophy match, Mysore vs. Tamil Nadu, was also played here.

In the subsequent years, the stadium hosted a number of well-contested Tests matches and one-dayers. The famous tied Test between India and Australia in 1986-87, only the second in the game's history, was an example of that.

But one batsman has a special connection with Chepauk - Sachin Tendulkar. The master blaster unfurled one of his most remarkable innings here against Pakistan in 1999. But a back spasm prevented the batting maestro to complete the job then, and he had to wait nearly a decade to make amends.

The Mumbaikar scripted an unbeaten hundred against England in 2008 that helped India hunt down a target close to 400 on the fifth day. His hundred against Australia in that epic 2000-01 series is also fresh in every cricket lover's memory for its aesthetic quality and timing.

However, the pitch for the Test between India and South Africa in early 2008 produced another classic -Virender Sehwag's blistering triple hundred. A feat that will forever be remembered as he joined an exclusive club of batsmen who have scored two or more triple tons, in which only Sir Don Bradman and Brian Lara enjoyed membership till then.

But there is one extra special element that makes Chepauk what it is - its knowledgeble and sporting crowd. Perhaps no other venue in India can claim to have a set of spectators who will support the team that plays better cricket, and not just the local team.

This is not a mere comment. Rewind your memory to that 1999 Test against Pakistan when the entire Chennai crowd stood up and cheered the Pakistanis who staged a victory march. "The crowd here appreciates teams that play good cricket. I could not believe it when the spectators stood up and clapped while we were doing the victory lap," said Wasim Akram, who had captained Pakistan in that memorable Test.