Every one of the 32 matches in Nepal Premier League Season 3 is played at a single ground: Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Here is how the pitch actually plays, the scores it produces, what the toss winner should do, and what to know before you go.
TU Ground Kirtipur is a balanced T20 pitch that leans towards batting first in NPL matches: the average first-innings score in NPL games here is around 145, spinners get turn as the match wears on, and dew under lights can help the chasing side late in the game.
Quick Facts
| Venue | Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur |
| NPL 2026 matches | All 32 matches, 26 October to 21 November 2026 |
| NPL average 1st innings | Around 145 runs (32 NPL matches) |
| Toss record (all T20) | 35 wins batting first, 28 wins chasing (65 matches) |
| Boundaries | Straight 70-75 m, square 60-65 m |
How the Kirtipur Pitch Plays
Ask five people about the Kirtipur pitch and you will get two answers, and both are partly right. On its day it is a proper batting surface: even bounce, a fast outfield, and short square boundaries that reward anyone willing to hit through the line. On another day it grips, slows up, and turns square for the spinners. That split personality is exactly why captains keep changing their minds at the toss.
Kirtipur’s surface was revamped ahead of Nepal Premier League Season 3, and the early games have already shown both faces. In Match 3, Karnali Yaks scrapped to 132 for 9 and Janakpur Bolts were bowled out for 113 on a pitch that match reports described as really difficult to bat on, with wickets falling in regular succession. Anyone writing Kirtipur off as a batting paradise has not watched this season.
Match patterns at Kirtipur stay consistent enough to plan around. Fast bowlers get early movement with the new ball, and as the surface wears, spin becomes the main weapon. Cutters and slower balls stay effective too, because the pitch rarely lets batters hit freely for all 40 overs. Dew is the other factor in night games: when it settles, bowlers struggle to grip the ball and it skids onto the bat, which is why chasing sides often look stronger after dark.
TU Ground Numbers: Averages, Toss and Records
Reading Kirtipur’s numbers honestly means looking at more than one sample, because they do not all agree. Across 32 NPL matches at the venue, the average first-innings score is 144.91, with 15 wins batting first and 16 chasing: about as even as a toss record gets. Tracking of recent NPL games puts the averages higher, at 157 in the first innings and 137 in the second. The last ten completed T20s at the ground go the other way: an average of 129, with eight of ten rated bowling-friendly.
Put together, a par score of roughly 145 to 160 in NPL cricket at Kirtipur is the sensible reading, with recent games trending towards the lower end. Teams that post 160 or more give themselves a genuine cushion; teams that stop at 130 or below need their bowlers to do something special.
Across all T20 cricket at the venue (65 matches), the split is 35 wins batting first and 28 chasing, with averages of 149 in the first innings and 127 in the second. The highest T20 total here is 247, and the highest successful chase is 209. In T20 internationals, the records belong to Nepal’s own players: Nepal’s 238 for 3 against Netherlands in the 2021 tri-series final, Dipendra Singh Airee’s 619 T20I runs here at 61.90, and Sandeep Lamichhane’s 31 T20I wickets at 12.67 (best 4 for 48).
What Should the Toss Winner Do?
Kirtipur’s toss does not hand either captain an obvious answer, and the numbers back that up. In NPL matches the split is 15 wins batting first and 16 chasing. Across all T20s it tilts slightly the other way, 35 to 28 in favour of batting first. Neither margin is big enough to build a fixed rule around.
What actually decides it is the conditions on the day. In a day game on a dry surface, batting first is the percentage call: post 160 or more, then let the pitch slow down and the spinners work. Under lights, the dew question takes over. If heavy dew is expected, bowling first is a real advantage; if the evening stays dry, the edge swings back to the side setting a target.
For batters, the first six overs are the best time to score, with the ball coming on and the field up. The middle overs belong to spin and cutters, and partnerships matter more than individual hitting. For bowlers, the winning move is variation: pace off the ball, hard lengths, and spinners willing to toss it up rather than dart it in.
Venue Guide: Ground, Stands and Getting There
Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground sits in Kirtipur, in the Kathmandu Valley, and it has been the home of Nepal cricket since it opened in 1998. Venue listings put its capacity at around 20,000, and its two ends are called the Pavilion End and the Chobar End. Every match of NPL Season 3 is played here, which makes it the only ground a fan needs to know this season.
Ground dimensions shape the cricket. Straight boundaries run around 70 to 75 metres, while the square boundaries are shorter at roughly 60 to 65 metres. That is why pull shots and cuts are so productive here, and why captains protect the square boundary in the death overs.
Late October and November evenings in the Kathmandu Valley turn cool, and night games can get chilly once the sun drops. Gates, timings and ticket details are covered in our match-day fan guide, linked below. Because all 32 matches are at one venue, the pitch gets heavy use across the season, and a surface used for its tenth match in three weeks does not behave like a fresh one — part of why early-season and late-season scores here can look so different.
FAQs
What is the average first-innings score at TU Ground in the NPL?
Around 145 across the NPL sample at the venue (144.91 over 32 matches). Recent NPL games average closer to 157, while the last ten T20s at the ground average 129. A realistic par score is 145 to 160.
Is TU Ground a batting or bowling pitch?
Kirtipur is a balanced pitch with a batting lean early in the game and increasing help for spin later. The last ten T20s at the ground leaned bowling-friendly, and early Season 3 games have included low scores, so it is not a flat batting track.
What should the captain do after winning the toss at Kirtipur?
Captains have no strong default. NPL matches split 15 wins batting first and 16 chasing. Under lights with dew expected, chasing gets easier; on a dry day, batting first and posting 160 or more is the safer play.
What is the highest total at TU Ground Kirtipur?
247 in T20 cricket at the venue. In T20 internationals, the highest total is Nepal’s 238 for 3 against Netherlands in the 2021 tri-series final.
