AI Generated Summary
- Success at the international level and the visibility of stars such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah have also encouraged youngsters to take up the game seriously.
- A group of college players said pooling money to hire a ground had also given them a more constructive way to spend their….
- Chopra said a team of cricket experts headed by former Punjab Ranji player Deepak Bansal and former national-level cricketer Sushil Thakur has been associated with its floodlight cricket initiative, allowing participants to receive technical guidance while enjoying the game.
From aspiring youngsters to office-goers and businessmen, professionally managed grounds and night cricket are changing how Ludhiana plays its favourite sport
Long after offices shut, college classes end and factories wind down for the day, another shift begins across Ludhiana. Floodlights flicker on, teams arrive carrying kits and bats, and cricket grounds that might once have fallen silent after sunset begin filling up with players.
Night cricket has emerged as one of the most visible signs of the city’s growing appetite for the game. What was traditionally associated with daytime coaching and weekend matches is increasingly becoming an evening pursuit for students, professionals, businessmen and workers looking for recreation after their daily routine.
The change is also reflected in the rapid growth of cricket academies, private coaching centres and professionally maintained grounds across the district. Many facilities now offer quality pitches, well-kept outfields, floodlights and other amenities that allow matches to continue well into the evening.
Players typically spend around Rs 350 to Rs 400 each for a match at such facilities. The cost, however, appears to have done little to dampen demand. Organisers say weekend slots at some grounds are booked several days — and sometimes weeks — in advance.
For many players, the attraction goes beyond cricket itself. Evening matches have become a way to exercise, meet friends and break away from sedentary routines after work or study.
“Most young employees, factory workers, students and businessmen are free after 6 pm. Under floodlights, they get a proper ground and quality cricket after their daily routine,” said Ashok Chopra of Elite Cricket Academy at Golf Link Colony on Hambran Road.
According to Chopra, weekends are particularly busy, with teams from Ludhiana as well as surrounding areas arriving for friendly fixtures and corporate tournaments.
The academy is also attempting to bring professional expertise to recreational cricket. Chopra said a team of cricket experts headed by former Punjab Ranji player Deepak Bansal and former national-level cricketer Sushil Thakur has been associated with its floodlight cricket initiative, allowing participants to receive technical guidance while enjoying the game.
At Guru Nanak Sports Academy in Haibowal Kalan, former player and academy owner Rajesh Sharma has witnessed a similar change.
“The response has been overwhelming. Earlier, players used to finish by sunset. Now our day starts in the evening,” Sharma said.
The growing popularity of these facilities mirrors cricket’s larger transformation in India. The sport has long occupied a place beyond conventional sporting fandom, with leading players becoming household names and India matches drawing enormous audiences. Success at the international level and the visibility of stars such as Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah have also encouraged youngsters to take up the game seriously.
Across Ludhiana, aspiring cricketers are entering academies at increasingly young ages, hoping to develop the skills required to compete at higher levels. Coaches say parents too are more willing to support children who want structured cricket training.
“Parents are encouraging their children to take up cricket seriously. With better coaching facilities and modern grounds, the district has the potential to produce many national-level cricketers,” said cricket coach Amandeep Singh.
For college student Karan Malhotra, who trains at a local academy, the achievements of Indian players remain a powerful motivation.
“Every youngster dreams of representing India one day. Watching Team India perform on the international stage motivates us to work harder and improve our skills,” he said.
Yet the expansion of cricket in the city is not being driven by aspiring professionals alone.
For 20-something software professional Harpreet Singh, regular evening matches offer a much-needed change after hours spent at work.
“After a hectic day at work, playing cricket under floodlights is the perfect way to unwind. It keeps us fit and also gives us an opportunity to spend quality time with friends,” he said.
A group of college players said pooling money to hire a ground had also given them a more constructive way to spend their evenings.
“Earlier, we used to just sit and waste time in the evenings. Now we collect money, book a ground and play. Even if we pay Rs 400, we save ourselves from drugs and other bad habits,” they said.
The trend has also acquired a distinctly social character. At several grounds, players are accompanied by family members and friends. Children watch from the sidelines, supporters cheer teams on and refreshments turn ordinary matches into informal evening gatherings.
For businessman Rajesh Mehra, who regularly plays weekend matches, that atmosphere is part of the appeal.
“Night cricket has become a family outing. While we play, our children and relatives enjoy watching the matches. The atmosphere is full of excitement and positivity,” he said.
Mehra considers the expenditure reasonable when compared with other forms of weekend entertainment. “An amount of Rs 400 is less than what we spend on a movie and dinner. Here we get two hours of pure cricket under lights. It is worth every rupee,” he added.
The increasing number of corporate leagues, inter-academy competitions, friendly fixtures and weekend tournaments has also helped extend cricketing activity throughout the year. For organisers, rising demand is creating an incentive to invest further in grounds and coaching infrastructure.
For players, meanwhile, the new facilities are changing when — and why — they play.
A youngster entering an academy may still harbour dreams of wearing the India jersey one day. But on the adjacent floodlit pitch, a software professional may simply be trying to shake off a stressful workday, while a businessman plays a weekend game as his family watches from the boundary.
Different ambitions have found space on the same field.
And as the lights come on each evening across Ludhiana, cricket is increasingly becoming not merely a game people watch, but a part of how the city spends its leisure hours, stays active and comes together.
