TU International Cricket Stadium Kirtipur: Capacity & Guide
Everything fans need to know about TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur: current capacity, floodlights, upgrade plans, location and NPL Season 3 tips.
TU International Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, the home of Nepali cricket, is set to host the entire third season of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) from October 26 to November 21, 2026. With new seating, floodlights and a major expansion plan on the table, here is everything fans need to know about the stadium's capacity, history, location and matchday essentials.
What is the capacity of TU Cricket Stadium?
The most commonly cited capacity for the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground is around 13,000 spectators following the first phase of upgrades completed in late 2025. That phase added concrete seating for about 10,000 people. Figures vary by source, with some listings still showing 15,000 or more, so fans should treat the number as approximate until the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) publishes an official seat count.
The long-term target is 30,000. The government has approved a master plan, estimated at around Rs 10 billion, and designated the stadium a national priority project. A confirmed completion date for the second and third phases has not been announced, so fans should plan around the current capacity this season.
Floodlights and the 2025 upgrade
The first phase of the upgrade began in March 2025 and included six floodlight towers, which made day-night cricket possible at the ground for the first time. The floodlights and new stands were formally inaugurated on November 16, 2025, ahead of the second NPL season. Reports put the government's spending at roughly Rs 430 million for floodlights and Rs 420 million for grandstands.
The upgrade ended years of fans watching from open grass banks and improvised vantage points, and it moved the ground much closer to the standard expected of an international venue.
Ground facts at a glance
The stadium sits inside the Tribhuvan University campus in Kirtipur, on the southwestern edge of Kathmandu, at an elevation of about 1,400 metres. The playing field is oval and measures roughly 154 by 132 metres. The ground is owned by the Government of Nepal and operated by CAN. It is the home venue of the Nepal national men's and women's teams.
A short history
The first recorded match at the ground was Bangladesh against Singapore in the 1998 ACC Trophy. The ground later staged the first first-class matches ever played in Nepal during the ICC Intercontinental Cup in the mid-2000s. It has since hosted ICC World Cricket League events, the Everest Premier League, the Prime Minister One Day Cup and matches at the 2019 South Asian Games.
On the international stage, the ground staged its first men's T20 International, Nepal against Bhutan, on December 5, 2019, and its first men's ODI, Nepal against Oman, on February 5, 2020. It also hosted matches in the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, alongside Mulpani. The most recent men's ODI listed there was Nepal against the United States on May 22, 2026. The 2015 earthquake damaged the ground's basic infrastructure, and CAN rebuilt it afterwards.
NPL Season 3 at TU Ground
All 32 matches of NPL Season 3 are scheduled for Kirtipur. Eight franchises will play a round-robin league followed by playoffs, with the final on November 21. CAN has said play will pause for only two days during the Tihar festival, which runs from November 6 to 12. Schedule reports indicate a mix of afternoon and evening starts now that floodlights are available, but fans should confirm exact timings on the official fixture list.
The ground has hosted every NPL match so far. Janakpur Bolts won the inaugural 2024 title here, and Lumbini Lions won the second edition in 2025.
The lease question
Fans should also know that the ground's future has been in the news. The long-standing 25-year lease between Tribhuvan University and CAN expired in mid-May 2026. The university said it did not want to extend it, citing disruption to academic activity, but the Cabinet decided on April 27 to proceed with a new lease arrangement and the government said the stadium would not be demolished. Later reports said the university and CAN would discuss a short-term arrangement, with CAN submitting its match calendar in advance for approval. Matches scheduled at the ground have continued to go ahead.
How to get to TU Cricket Stadium
The stadium is inside the Tribhuvan University campus in Kirtipur. It can be reached by public transport, taxi or ride-share, but parking around the ground is limited. On match days, leave early, expect heavy traffic on the roads leading to Kirtipur, and consider sharing a ride or using a bike-taxi service for the last stretch.
Tickets and matchday tips
Tickets for recent NPL seasons were sold digitally, with QR codes scanned at the gate. Fans should buy only through channels announced by CAN or the NPL organisers and be wary of unofficial sellers. Prices and seating categories for Season 3 should be checked on the official announcement.
For evening matches, carry a light jacket, since Kathmandu evenings turn cool from late October. Bring your phone fully charged for your digital ticket, arrive well before the first ball to avoid gate queues, and check the official notice for any rules on bags and prohibited items.
What comes next
Season 3 will show how the upgraded ground copes with a full tournament under lights. The bigger questions are the final lease terms with Tribhuvan University and when the next phases of construction will begin. Until those are settled, TU International Cricket Stadium remains the heart of Nepali cricket and the stage for the country's biggest domestic tournament.