MCA Stadium Pune Guide: How to Reach Gahunje, Nearest Station, Parking, Gates and Tips for the December 27 T20I

Last updated: 15 November 2026 · 6 min read · By Prashant Chaudhari

The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) stadium is not in Pune city at all. It stands at Gahunje, beside the Mumbai-Pune Expressway near Dehu Road, about 30 km from central Pune. That distance, plus one main approach road, is why getting in and out on match day needs a plan.

Quick answer: for an evening match, leave central Pune at least three hours before the start. Drive or share a cab via the old Mumbai-Pune highway and Dehu Road, or take a Lonavala local to Begdewadi, Ghorawadi or Dehu Road station and do the last stretch by auto. The next big game is India vs Sri Lanka, the third T20I, on Sunday, 27 December 2026 at 7 pm.

MCA stadium at a glance

A short history of Pune’s international ground

Before 2012, Pune’s international matches were played at the Nehru Stadium in Swargate. The MCA built a new ground on the city’s western edge, and Sharad Pawar inaugurated it on 1 April 2012, in time for that year’s IPL. For a while it carried the name Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium; the MCA name was restored after the naming deal fell through.

The ground hosted its first T20 International, India vs England, on 20 December 2012, and its first ODI, India vs Australia, in October 2013. Its first Test came in February 2017, when Australia’s spinner Steve O’Keefe took six wickets in each innings. In the 2023 World Cup it staged five matches, including India vs Bangladesh, according to the stadium’s Wikipedia record.

IPL fans will remember it as the home of Pune Warriors India and Rising Pune Supergiant, and as Chennai Super Kings’ temporary home in 2018.

How to reach MCA stadium by car

Most fans drive or share a cab. You have two routes from the city:

• Old Mumbai-Pune highway (NH48 old route): via Wakdewadi, Khadki, Pimpri, Chinchwad, Nigdi and Dehu Road, then towards Gahunje. Slower in daytime traffic but has more turns to escape jams.
• Expressway: join near Kiwale or Dehu Road and exit for the stadium. Quicker when traffic is light but has few exits.

On match days, traffic police usually announce diversions and one-way stretches near Gahunje and Dehu Road. Check the Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad traffic police social media handles on the day, because the area falls under the Pimpri-Chinchwad commissionerate.

Nearest railway stations to MCA stadium

There is no metro to Gahunje yet. The closest rail option is Pune’s suburban line to Lonavala. Begdewadi, Ghorawadi and Dehu Road are the nearest stations, according to a Housing.com guide to the venue. Locals start from Pune station and Shivajinagar and stop at Pimpri, Chinchwad and Akurdi on the way.

From the station you will need an auto or a long walk on roads without proper footpaths. After a night match, the last locals may have left, so plan your return before you set off. Read our Pune to Lonavala local train guide for the timetable.

Parking at Gahunje

Parking near the stadium is limited and is often allowed only with a pass sold with tickets or issued by the MCA. Without one, you may have to park far away on village roads and walk. Two-wheelers are easier to park than cars.

If you are four people, a shared cab dropping you at a gate is often less stressful than driving. Fix a pickup point a little away from the main gate, where cabs can actually reach you after the match.

Tickets: how to avoid fakes

When we checked on 14 November, tickets for the 27 December T20I were being advertised on international resale websites, but we could not find an official sale announcement from the MCA. Resale sites are not the official seller, and prices on them can be several times the face value.

• Buy only through the ticketing partner named by the MCA or BCCI.
• Do not pay anyone on WhatsApp, Instagram or Telegram for tickets.
• Keep a photo ID that matches the name on your booking.

We cover the match itself, and will add official ticket details when they are announced, in our India vs Sri Lanka Pune T20 story.

What to carry and what to leave at home

Stadium rules are printed on the ticket or the booking page, and you should read them before leaving. At most Indian international grounds, security does not allow:

• Large bags, backpacks and helmets.
• Water bottles, food from outside, lighters, coins and cigarettes.
• Power banks, selfie sticks, umbrellas, banners on sticks and laser pointers.

Carry a small pouch with your phone, ID, ticket, some cash and medicines you need. Food and water are sold inside, usually at higher prices.

Weather and timing tips for a December night match

Gahunje is open country, and December evenings on Pune’s western edge can be chilly, with temperatures often dropping to the low teens by night. Carry a light jacket or shawl. Check our guide to Pune weather in December before you go.

Gates open a few hours before the start. Reaching early also lets you walk around the stands before the ground fills up. When the match ends, waiting 20 to 30 minutes in your seat often means less time in the exit crush.

A sample match-day timeline for a 7 pm start

If you take the local train, work back from the time your train reaches Begdewadi or Dehu Road, and add at least 45 minutes for the auto ride and security queue.

Getting back to Pune after a night match

The return is harder than the arrival, because tens of thousands of people leave at the same time. Cab surge pricing is common, and many drivers will not come close to the stadium.

Walk 15 to 20 minutes away from the gates before booking a cab, or agree on a return trip with your driver in advance. Groups from Pimpri-Chinchwad can share an auto to Nigdi or Akurdi and continue from there. Keep your phone charged, because you will need it for maps, payments and calls.

Stadium etiquette and safety

• Stay with your group and fix a meeting point in case phones stop working in the crowd.
• Keep children close at exits, where crowds bunch up.
• For any emergency, dial 112; see our list of Pune emergency numbers.

Frequently asked questions