Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground is a picturesque cricket ground located in Kirtipur, Nepal.

Popularly known as TU Cricket Ground, the ground was established in 1998 and has a seating capacity of 13,000.

The first recorded match played at the TU Cricket Ground was when Bangladesh played Papua New Guinea in the ACC Trophy 1998.

It later hosted several international competitions, including the 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Five and the 2015-17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.

The Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground staged its first international cricket match, a T20 game played between hosts Nepal and Bhutan in the South Asian Games Men's Cricket Competition. 

Since then, it has hosted more than 25 T20Is in men’s international cricket so far. Let’s have a look at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground T20I records and stats:

Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground T20I records and stats

Highest team total

The Nepal cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in T20 international cricket. During the Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series final in 2021, the hosts posted 238/3 in their 20 overs against the Netherlands in Kirtipur. Put into bat, Nepal rode on fifties from Kushal Bhurtel (77) and Kushal Malla  (50 not out) to post a record T20I total at the venue. The Gyanendra Malla-led Nepal later bundled out the visitors for 96 in 17.2 overs to register a comprehensive 142-run victory. 

Lowest team total

The Maldives cricket team registered the lowest team total at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in the T20I format. Chasing 164, Maldives could only manage 79/6 in their allotted 20 overs against Nepal during the South Asian Games men's cricket tournament. Sushan Bhari and Lalit Rajbanshi picked up two wickets each for Nepal. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohamed Azzam top-scored for Maldives with a run-a-ball 17. Earlier, Karan KC’s unbeaten 40 off 16 balls and Dipendra Singh Airee’s 36-ball 39 powered the hosts to 163/7 in their 20 overs. Nepal won the game by 84 runs.

Most runs

Nepal’s star batter Dipendra Singh Airee has scored the most runs at the venue in T20I cricket. Between 2019 and 2024, the swashbuckling right-handed batter has accumulated 619 runs in 16 matches at an impressive average of 61.90 and a strike rate of 169.58. Dipendra has slammed one hundred and four fifties in the T20I format at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground. His teammate Kushal Bhurtel features second on the list with 577 runs in 17 matches.

Most wickets

Former Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has bagged the most wickets at this cricket ground in T20 internationals. The leg-spinner scalped 31 wickets in just 14 matches at an average of 12.67 and an economy of 7.03. His best T20I bowling figures at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground is 4/48. Compatriot Karan KC is second on the list with 30 wickets in 20 matches. 

Highest individual score

Netherlands�?Max O'Dowd holds the record for the highest individual score at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in T20I cricket. Opening the batting, Max O'Dowd smashed an unbeaten 133 off just 73 balls against Malaysia during a Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series clash in 2021. His scintillating knock was laced with 15 fours and six maximums. Max O'Dowd’s magnificent ton powered the Netherlands to 191/2 in their 20 overs. The Netherlands later restricted Malaysia to 176/8 in allotted overs to win the game by 15 runs in Kirtipur.

Best bowling figures

Malaysian cricketer Muhammad Amir has the best bowling figures at this venue in T20 international cricket. The slow left-arm spinner registered match-winning figures of 5/16 against Singapore in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier final in November 2023. Defending 199, Amir bamboozled the Singapore batters as he dismissed Anish Paraam, Thilip Thilappan, Surendran Chandramohan, Manpreet Singh and Harsha Bharadwaj to bundle out Singapore for 138 in 17.5 overs. Malaysia won the final by 60 runs.

Highest partnership

Papua New Guinea’s Assad Vala and Tony Ura hold the record for the highest partnership at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in T20I cricket. During a Nepal Tri-Nation T20I Series clash in 2022, Assad Vala and Tony Ura forged a match-winning 137-run partnership for the third wicket to help PNG chase down 197 in 17.5 overs. While captain Vala scored 74 not out off 51 balls, Ura remained unbeaten on a 34-ball 86. The incredible partnership guided PNG to an eight-wicket win in Kirtipur.

Photo credit: Alamy

Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground is a picturesque cricket ground located in Kirtipur, Nepal.

Popularly known as TU Cricket Ground, the ground was established in 1998 and has a seating capacity of 13,000.

The first recorded match played at the TU Cricket Ground was when Bangladesh played Papua New Guinea in the ACC Trophy 1998.

It later hosted several international competitions, including the 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Five and the 2015-17 ICC World Cricket League Championship.

The Kirtipur Cricket Stadium staged its first one-day international in February 2020 between hosts Nepal and Oman in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2. Oman won the match by 18 runs. 

Since then, it has hosted more than 25 ODIs in men’s international cricket so far. Let’s have a look at TU Cricket Ground ODI records and stats:

TU Cricket Ground ODI records and stats

Highest team total

The United Arab Emirates national cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at the TU Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. During an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 game in March 2023, the Muhammad Waseem-led UAE posted 310/6 in their 50 overs against hosts Nepal. Electing to bat first, the visitors rode on Asif Khan’s unbeaten 42-ball 101, Vriitya Aravind’s 94 and skipper Muhammad Waseem’s 63 to register a record ODI total at the venue. In reply, Nepal managed 269/6 in 44 overs before the match was called off as it was too dark to continue. Interestingly, the hosts were ahead as per DLS method and they won the game by nine runs. Nepal have also posted a total of 310 at this venue albeit for the loss of eight wickets en route to an 84-win victory over Oman in the 2023 ACC Men's Premier Cup.

Lowest team total

The United States national cricket team registered the lowest team total at the TU Cricket Ground in the ODI format. Put into bat, USA were bundled out for 35 in 12 overs by Nepal during an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 match in February 2020. Opener Xavier Marshall top-scored for USA with 16 and was the only batter to reach double digits. For Nepal, leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane picked up six wickets while Sushan Bhari took four scalps. Nepal later chased down the target in just 5.2 overs as the hosts won the match by eight wickets.

Most runs

Nepal cricket team captain Rohit Paudel has scored the most runs at this venue in ODI cricket. Between 2020 and 2024, the right-handed batter amassed 634 runs in 19 matches at an average of 39.62. He’s slammed one hundred and four fifties in the ODI format on this ground. Another Nepal batter Kushal Bhurtel is second on the list with 418 runs in 17 ODIs on this ground.

Most wickets

Former Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane bagged the most wickets at the TU Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. The right-arm leg-spinner picked up 40 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 17.20 and an economy of 4.64 between 2020 and 2023. He registered best bowling figures of 6/16 on this ground in the ODI format. Compatriot Karan Khatri Chhetri features second on the list with 23 wickets in 14 ODIs.

Highest individual score

Namibia’s Michael van Lingen recorded the highest individual score at this venue in the ODI format. Batting at number three, the left-handed batter scored 133 off 137 balls against Nepal during an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 game in 2023. Michael van Lingen’s scintillating knock was laced with nine fours and five maximums. His hundred helped Namibia post 285 in their 50 overs. However, van Lingen’s ton later went in vain as Nepal chased down the target to secure a two-wicket win in Kirtipur.

Best bowling figures

Sandeep Lamichhane registered the best bowling figures at the TU Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. Lamichhane recorded magnificent figures of 6/16 against USA  

during an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 match in 2020. The former leg-spinner dismissed Ian Holland, Monank Patel, Nisarg Patel, Akshay Homraj, Timil Patel and Nosthush Kenjige to bowl out USA for 35 in just 12 overs. The Gyanendra Malla-led Nepal won the game by eight wickets. 

Highest partnership

Oman’s Zeeshan Maqsood and Aqib Ilyas hold the record for the highest partnership at TU Cricket Ground in the ODI format. During an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 encounter in 2020, captain Zeeshan Maqsood and Aqib Ilyas forged a 216-run partnership for the third wicket against the United States. Maqsood slammed 109 while Ilyas hammered 105 to help power Oman to 276/6 in their 50 overs. In reply, the United States were skittled out for 184 as Oman won the match by 92 runs.

Photo credit: Alamy

Nepal cricketer Sandeep Lamichhane has claimed the most wickets in a calendar year in T20 internationals.

After being appointed the new Nepal cricket team captain in December 2021, Sandeep Lamichhane has already picked 38 wickets in 18 matches in 2022 at an average of 10.78 and an economy of 5.77.

The right-arm leg-spinner also registered his best bowling figures in 2022 as he bagged five wickets for just nine runs in his quota of four overs against hosts Kenya in a T20 encounter at Gymkhana Club Ground.

Meanwhile, Lamichhane surpassed the previous record held by Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga. The Sri Lanka leg-spinner picked 36 wickets in 20 matches in 2021 at an average of 11.63 and an economy of 5.44. 

Interestingly, Wanindu Hasaranga finished as the leading wicket-taker during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates in 2021. The star leg-spinner scalped 16 wickets in just eight matches at an economy of 5.20 and an average of 9.75.

South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi features third on the list. The left-arm wrist-spinner had also claimed 36 wickets but in 22 matches in 2021 at an average of 13.36 and an economy of 5.72. Shamsi had picked eight wickets in five matches in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021.

Uganda’s Dinesh Nakrani and Andrew Tye of Australia complete the top five list.

Left-arm medium-pacer Nakrani claimed 35 wickets in 22 matches in 2021. On the other hand, Andrew Tye picked 31 wickets in 19 matches in 2018.

Among Indians, premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah holds the record for the most wickets in a calendar year in T20 internationals. In 2016, Bumrah bagged 28 wickets in 21 T20Is at an average of 18.82 and an economy of 6.62.

Most wickets in a calendar year in T20 internationals

Player	Year	Matches	Wickets
Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal)	2022	18	38
Wanindu Hasaranga (Sri Lanka)	2021	20	36
Tabraiz Shamsi (South Africa)	2021	22	36
Dinesh Nakrani (Uganda)	2021	22	35
Andrew Tye (Australia)	2018	19	31
Waseem Abbas (Malta)	2021	18	29
Sandeep Lamichhane (Nepal)	2019	16	28
Brandon Glover (Netherlands)	2019	19	28
Karan KC (Nepal)	2019	19	28
Mustafizur Rahman (Bangladesh)	2021	20	28

Interested in cricket betting? Click here to check out the list of top sites.

Featured photo: ICC

 

Delhi are probably an outlier among IPL franchises in that they are the only team that won't be hugely crippled if the league is suddenly made all Indian with no overseas talent. Such is the strength of Indian players in their team that the overseas recruits are often mere sidekicks. That said, DC have a strong group of overseas talent and an overflow of options in certain departments. We try to identify the DC overseas players who should get maximum game time this season in the IPL.

Overseas players: Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Kagiso Rabada, Alex Carey, Daniel Sams, Anrich Nortje, Keemo Paul, Sandeep Lamichhane

Kagiso Rabada

The certain first-choice pick is Kagiso Rabada, the leader of the pace attack. Even though Delhi have Indian seamers in Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Avesh Khan and Harshal Patel, Rabada adds a sting to the attack and is a certain starter for Delhi this season. Last year, Rabada finished with 25 wickets - one below the league topper - in 12 matches and was effective with the new ball and in the death. He should be used in a similar role this year.

Sandeep Lamichhane

While Delhi have a strong group of spinners in Amit Mishra, Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin, Sandeep Lamichhane adds an element of mystery to the attack while being potentially very dangerous in the middle overs, particularly on the slow, low wickets in Delhi. Lamichhane has recent experience of playing in the Caribbean Premier League on these kinds of wickets and should be a handful for some IPL batsmen because of his mastery.

Shimron Hetmyer

Let's face it. It's difficult to squeeze in a top-order batsman in the Delhi line-up because of the overdose of Indian batsmen there. From Shikhar Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw to Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, the top order is packed. But they have got to find a way to squeeze in Hetmyer in the line-up. A simple answer could be to use him as a floater with Shreyas Iyer potentially moving down based on match situation, given that he is adept against spin-bowling. Hetmyer too is a powerful spin hitter and alongside Pant and Iyer, could be destructive against spinners in the middle overs.

Keemo Paul

This is perhaps a surprising choice given that Delhi have Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey and Daniel Sams, all Australians and favoured by head coach Ricky Ponting. But Paul is a versatile T20 player with several variations and can also wield the long handle. An effective late-order batsman and a death overs bowler, Paul will add an entirely different dimension to the Delhi attack. Given that there's no room for Stoinis at the top and his batting in the death is questionable, the Australian might have to sit most games out. The same goes for Carey who has once again thrived in the BBL in a top-order role. Paul, though, is fully aware of these conditions playing in the Caribbean and is a different player to the ones Delhi already have in their certain starting line-up.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

Eyeballs will be glued onto TV screens when the eighth edition of the Caribbean Premier League returns on August 18th. The six-team, 33-match tournament will be held in Trinidad & Tobago and will be the first major T20 league to mark its return amid the global pandemic.

With no international series or fellow T20 leagues hindering the participation of top players, the eighth season of the CPL promises to be one of its best. With so much talent on show, we pick out five that will be must-watch during the tournament: 

Shimron Hetmyer (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

Talented 23-year-old Shimron Hetmyer was part of the Guyana Amazon Warriors side that reached the final of the CPL last season, but on a personal note, the hard-hitting batsman had an average campaign. He scored just 224 runs in 12 matches at an average of 20.4 and a strike rate of 123.8.

While he may not have had the season he would’ve hoped for, Hetmyer’s ability is unquestionable and if he can replicate his form from 2018, where he stuck 440 runs, the Warriors could go one better than they did last season. 

Hayden Walsh Jr. (Barbados Tridents)

The player of the series in the last edition, Hayden Walsh was one of the primary reasons for the Barbados Tridents�?successful campaign in 2019.

The 28-year-old took 22 wickets at a tremendous average of 12.7 and strike rate of just 9.2. Walsh picked up two four-wicket hauls and one fifer in his nine appearances in 2019, illustrating how destructive he can be with the ball. The Tridents will rely on their leggie to lead them to their third CPL title in 2020. 

Chemar Holder (St Lucia Zouks)

He may not have made a telling impact in the CPL yet, but big things are expected from young speedster Chemar Holder in this year’s edition.

The 22-year-old, who rose to fame with his performance at the 2016 U-19 Cricket World Cup, has been terrorizing batsmen in the domestic circuit, picking up 76 wickets in 19 first-class matches. Playing for St Lucia Zouks will surely bring a whole lot of pressure on the youngster, but if his form is anything to go by, a special season could be in the offering from the young pacer.

Romario Shepherd (Guyana Amazon Warriors)

Bowling all-rounder Romario Shepherd is an impact player with both, bat and ball.

The 25-year-old picked 13 wickets in 10 matches last season and batted at a tremendous strike rate 205. Shepherd’s stock has continued to rise over the past two years and having already played a big role in helping Guyana Amazon Warriors reach the final last season, Shepherd will be keen on aiding his side to win the title this year.

Sandeep Lamichhane (Jamaica Tallawahs)

20-year-old Nepalese leg-spinner, Sandeep Lamichhane has been tremendous in his nascent career so far.

Coming from a country not known for its cricket prowess, Lamichhane has defied odds and has been a world-class talent at this tender age. He has played 11 matches in the CPL and has picked up 15 wickets so far. But what stands out is his ability to put the brakes on the opposition. Lamichhane's economy in the CPL is under 6.5 and it will be interesting to see if he can yet again deliver the goods for the Jamaica Tallawahs this season.

If you wish to raise the stakes further, Sportsbet.io has even more to offer!

Feature image courtesy: Twitter / @GYAmazonWarrior

The Indian T20 League has long been a platform for players from little-known cricketing countries to make an impact at a global stage.

While in the past we have seen the likes of Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and Mujeeb ur Rahman announce themselves at the biggest stage, this season it's a wily leg-spinner from the Himalayan nation, Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane making the right noises. 

Still only 18, Lamichhane is already one of the most recognisable faces in the cricket circles in Nepal. Apart from significant success in national colours, Lamichhane has also made an impact in T20 leagues around the globe.

His growing international stature is evident by the fact that he's a regular in Team's Delhi line-up this season, having played just three games last year.

Lamichhane admits that the 2019 edition has been a huge learning curve, but while he is happy to do well in T20 leagues, he is ever committed to Nepal cricket. "I'm very thankful to Nepal cricket because I've done really good for Nepal cricket in the past year and that's why people from Delhi, they (picked) me last year," he told ICC.

"From there (it) completely changed my life because I got to play three games, did really good for Delhi. After that, I've not had to look back at my journey.

"Last time I played three games, but this time I've to play a lot of games. That's where I can improve myself, so that if this time I'm getting seven to eight games, I would like to make sure, next Time, I will play all the 14 games."

 

Nepalese sensation Sandeep Lamichhane has called for the World Cup to be expanded to up to 16 teams, saying limiting it to 10 hurts players from emerging cricket nations.

The 18-year-old leg-spinner, who last year became the first Nepalese player to land an Indian Premier League contract, said he was frustrated to be missing out on the tournament in England and Wales starting in May.

"Sorry to say but a 10-team World Cup will hurt a lot of players like me who will not be a part of it," the Delhi player (playing for the Indian T20 League) told AFP in an interview.

"I think there should be 14-16 teams in the World Cup."

Lamichhane added: "World Cup comes after every four years and teams can achieve their biggest dreams there. We are an emerging nation and this is something we would love to play for our country.

"Even in 2023 there are (again) only 10 teams so it will be a while before we can even think of playing in the 50-over event."

Lamichhane, who has a blond streak in his dark hair and earrings in both ears, has drawn comparisons with his hero, the flamboyant Australian great Shane Warne, for his bowling style and ability to generate wicked turn.

The confident teenager is the poster boy for the rise of cricket in mountainous Nepal, which gained one-day international status last year but remains a long way from contesting a World Cup.

- Rooting for the underdog -

Cricket's showpiece tournament had 16 teams in 2007, but the field was reduced to 14 in 2011 and 2015 as the International Cricket Council sought to avoid one-sided matches.

It has been slashed to just 10 teams for 2019 and 2023, featuring the top eight sides in the one-day rankings and another two coming through qualifying.

Lamichhane, who will be watching the World Cup from afar, said he was hoping for some upsets by the smaller teams, who include Afghanistan.

"I am going to watch the World Cup on TV and love to see any team that is under-rated perform well against the big nations," said Lamichhane.

"It will be an inspiration for us who are just beginning their journey right now."

Test cricket is also on Lamichhane's radar as Nepal bid to follow in the footsteps of Afghanistan and Ireland, who in 2017 were elevated to the elite club of nations eligible to play the five-day game.

"Two years back we were nothing," said Lamichhane. "But now we are an ODI and T20 international nation.

"Hopefully there will be a time when we become the next Test nation. Even if I play a Test match for my country after 10 years, it will be the proudest moment."

- Big break -

Nepal gained one-day international status at last year's World Cup qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe, despite the ICC's suspension of Nepal's national governing body since 2016 over political interference.

Despite their success, the team from the Himalayas are yet to play a top side, and have just a couple of international-standard grounds capable of hosting games.

However, individual talent has flourished and Lamichhane, a product of Nepal's Chitwan Cricket Academy, became a protege of former Australian captain Michael Clarke who spotted him at a tournament in Hong Kong.

The teenager's big break came when he was snapped up by the Indian T20 League side Delhi, coached by another ex-Australia captain in Ricky Ponting, for $318,000 in January 2018.

So far this season he has bagged five wickets in four IPL matches, with the Capitals often using him as a new-ball bowler on spin-friendly Indian wickets.

"There is no doubt that IPL is the biggest league in the world. You get to see players who play spin really well and we get to perform against players who are the world's best batsmen," he said.

"He (Ponting) is been a huge influence on me. It's a great sign when a player like Ricky coaches your team. Things become easy because you know that he is there if something is wrong."

Lamichhane, whose biggest idols are Warne and Sachin Tendulkar, is surrounded by the world's top cricketers in the IPL but insists he remains focused on his own self-improvement.

"I look up only to myself because I want to be better than yesterday. I never plan something big, I always enjoy the day I am playing a game and let the life go in a flow," he said.

Team Delhi's young leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichanne believes that the upcoming season of the Indian T20 will provide him with a great opportunity to shine against the best players. The Nepalese bowler, who will represent the franchise for the second year running, spoke on the back of a training session at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium.

 

 

Sandeep Lamichanne (centre) with his team-mates at a training session. Image/ Team Delhi

Coming off an impressive Big Bash League season in Australia, Lamichanne said keeping things simple and working hard have been the keys to success for him. "It is sometimes a struggle to not be playing competitive international cricket or not playing at all when I go back home. But whenever I get the opportunity to play in such leagues, I like to keep things simple and I know that I have to work hard because I don’t get these facilities in Nepal. So, whenever I have the chance to play here in IPL and in other leagues, I only focus on performing to the best of my abilities," said the 18-year-old.

The spinner, being a huge fan of Shane Warne, said that he wants to follow the example of the Australian legend. "I have always admired and idolised Shane Warne the most, and fortunately for me, IPL has given me the chance to meet him. I met him last season where he gave me certain tips to improve my bowling, which also gave me a huge boost in my career. However, I believe, the most important advice that he gave me was to make sure that I bowl with a big and brave heart," Lamichanne said.

Speaking on the effect the 2018 edition of the Indian T20 League has had on his career, the youngster said, "Last year was a very special year for me as I got the chance to play in the biggest cricket league in the world. It will always be a special memory for me in my career, and I believe that it is the perfect platform for players like me who come from the non-Test playing nations. We now also have Samuel Badree with the team, who himself has been one of the top leg-spinners for the West Indies so I am looking forward to perform under his guidance."