Sikkim cricket achieves major 'floodlight' milestone, future IPL matches on cards
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Sikkim on May 29.
Northeast India has been witnessing a rise in cricket facilities over the past few years. While the rest of the country enjoys world-class infrastructure, the region remained distant from hosting any form of international cricket. Barring Assam's Guwahati, some progress has been made in the state of Tripura; other states have lagged in terms of the overall infrastructure needed to host matches.
In the latest development, Sikkim has joined the list of venues where the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), the state cricket association, and the regional government came together to enhance the playing facilities. On Sunday, May 18, Sikkim achieved a major landmark in its sporting history as it elevated the status of the Sikkim Cricket Ground situated in Mining, Rangpo, by installing state-of-the-art LED floodlights. The dazzling lights were inaugurated by the Honourable Chief Minister (CM) of the state, Prem Singh Tamang.
As a result of this new development, the venue is now well-equipped to host day-night cricket matches along with high-definition broadcasting of the games. Notably, the project cost INR 12.2 crore, which was fully funded by the Government of Sikkim, and the work was overseen by the Sikkim Cricket Association (SICA). The project began in December last year and was completed on April 18, 2025.
The floodlight system consists of four masts, each with a height of 44 metres. Each mast is powered with 64 LED lights, making a total of 256 lights installed. Impressively, the system is energy-efficient, as the capacity of each light is 1.2 Kilowatt (kW), providing a stunning illumination of 2800 lux towards the pitch. It was also revealed that the lighting system's standard far exceeds the required international benchmark for televised cricket.
SICA President hints at hosting IPL matches
Speaking on the occasion, the SICA President, Tika Subba, expressed deep gratitude towards the BCCI and the state government for joining hands to turn this dream into reality. Subba also shared the challenges of hosting matches beyond 3:30 PM (Indian Standard Time) during the winter season, owing to low visibility. He hinted that talks with the Indian board were underway regarding the possibility of hosting the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the future.
Apart from SICA officials, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Sikkim, Justice Biswanath Somadder, state cabinet ministers, the Chief Administrator cum Cabinet Secretary, and other senior officials marked their presence during the inauguration.
"Thanks to the government, with the help of the government as well as the BCCI, today we are able to install this historic floodlight," Subba was quoted as saying by OpIndia.
0
0PM Modi to visit Sikkim in May end
On the historic occasion, the honourable CM Prem Singh Tamang also shared his thoughts and confirmed that the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, is expected to visit Sikkim at the end of this month. He stated that the Sikkim government had received confirmation from the concerned authorities, although the final date is yet to be locked in.
"The Sikkim government has received confirmation regarding PM Modi’s visit. Several meetings have taken place. May 29 is the tentative date, though it is not 100% confirmed yet," Tamang revealed.
Shashank Singh reveals captaincy dream in old interview
SICA hosted T20 match to celebrate Sikkim's historic day
To celebrate the occasion, a T20 cricket match was organised between the SICA President XI and the Chief Secretary's (CS) team. Batting first, the CS team scored 121 runs after losing nine wickets in 20 overs. In reply, Team SICA took the game deep and chased down the target in the last over of the match with two balls to spare, losing five wickets in the process.
Download Our App