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
