Tau Devi Lal stadium upgraded to international standards ahead of CPL

Panchkula: Panchkula’s Tau Devi Lal Cricket Stadium has completed a major Rs 10-crore infrastructure upgrade to meet national and international match standards. The development, executed by the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran, comes just ahead of the third edition of the Chandigarh Premier League (CPL), which will see 34 matches played at the venue from June 8 to June 26, 2026.The financial allocation includes Rs 7 crore spent exclusively on installing six new high-mast lights to facilitate day-night matches, and Rs 3 crore dedicated to extensive facility upgrades. A key highlight is the newly constructed three-storey pavilion block on the southern side. The ground floor serves as an equipment storage area, the first floor houses two players’ lounges and dressing rooms equipped with steam, sauna, and ice baths, and the top floor features a viewing terrace, pantry, and guest washrooms.Additionally, the old pavilion block was fully refurbished and expanded with dedicated rooms for umpires, scorers, match referees, and video analysts. It now prominently features a large portrait of cricket legend Kapil Dev, captioned “Kapil Dev–Pride of Haryana.”On the field, ground maintenance has been modernised with new water rain guns for irrigation, new boundary rope wedges, and fresh soil procured to relay the playing surface during the upcoming monsoon. A new pitch curator has joined the stadium staff to oversee the preparation of seven pitches for the upcoming CPL matches.The training infrastructure has also been enhanced, featuring upgraded net practice areas with redone pitches and new chain-link fencing blocks. Similar chain-link fencing has been installed around the entire perimeter of the stadium to secure the property and contain balls within the ground.The facility’s expansion aligns with its growing local popularity. While the cricket academy hosted only three trainees two years ago, it now has 152 enrolled students and a waiting list of 126 aspiring cricketers. Senior officials note that the upgraded stadium remains booked for nearly 200 days a year and is now fully equipped to host major domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy.