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From Paan Singh Tomar to Railways Cricket: The Changing Fate of Karnail Singh Stadium

The decision to make Mumbais Brabourne Stadium the home ground of Railways for the 2026-27 Ranji Trophy season marks more than a change of venue. It also brings the curtain down, at least for now, on a long and fascinating chapter in the history of Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi. For generations, the stadium was synonymous with Railways cricket. It was where the team played its home matches, local supporters gathered, and several important moments in Indian sport unfolded. Today, however, its place in first-class cricket has diminished dramatically. Located in the Railway Colony area of Paharganj, the ground was built in 1954 and originally known as the Paharganj Railways Stadium. In 1978, it was renamed Karnail Singh Stadium in honour of Karnail Singh, one of the most influential railway administrators of his time. But this was never merely a cricket ground. Designed as a multi-sport facility, it hosted athletics, football, hockey, boxing, badminton and other sporting activities. For decades, it was an important sporting centre in the capital, particularly for railway employees and their families. One of the lesser-known sporting stories associated with the stadium involves Paan Singh Tomar, who later became famous for very different reasons. In 1964, he set a national record in the 3,000-metre steeplechase here, and the mark stood for several years. Many years later, actor Irrfan Khan, while preparing for his role as Tomar, visited the stadium to understand the place where the athlete had once competed. Cricket, nevertheless, became the stadium's most enduring association. Karnail Singh Stadium was the traditional home of Railways for decades. It was not a glamorous international venue, but it developed its own atmosphere. Railway colonies surrounded the ground, players and supporters were closely connected with the institution, and matches often had a distinctly local character. The presence of players such as Salim Durrani added to its appeal. Durrani, one of Indian cricket's great crowd-pullers, had a strong following in Delhi, and the Railways connection gave the ground an identity that larger venues could not easily replicate. The stadium also witnessed one of the biggest achievements in Railways cricket. In 2002, Railways played the Ranji Trophy final at Karnail Singh Stadium and won their maiden title on their home ground. Despite never becoming a regular men's international venue, Karnail Singh Stadium did host an important global cricket event. During the 1997 Women's World Cup, Sri Lanka Women played West Indies Women at the ground. The ground's relatively modest facilities and its multi-sport character were part of its charm and, eventually, part of its problem. The pitch became an increasingly visible concern. In 2012, the BCCI suspended the ground from hosting matches after concerns over the playing surface. The suspension forced Railways to look for alternative venues and marked an important break in the stadium's long association with first-class cricket. A decade later, another serious incident reinforced those concerns. During the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy match between Railways and Punjab, the pitch produced dangerously inconsistent bounce. The match was stopped after 24 wickets fell in just 103 overs, with fast bowlers accounting for 20 of those dismissals. Several players were hit, including Railways batsman Arindam Ghosh, who suffered a fractured finger. The pitch was subsequently described as dangerous and unfit. The match was restarted on another surface, while Railways' remaining home fixtures were moved elsewhere. The episode further underlined the ground's problems as a venue for first-class cricket. Railways were forced to play home matches at other venues, including grounds in Gujarat, and the team gradually lost the home-ground advantage that had been such a defining part of its identity. Now, the bigger question is not whether Karnail Singh Stadium can host another Ranji match, but whether it still has a sustainable future as a first-class cricket venue. Also Read: Special Cricket Stories In the 2026-27 season, Railways will play their home Ranji Trophy matches at Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, including one against the 'visitors' Mumbai. The move to Brabourne is more than a logistical decision. It represents the end of an era for a ground that was once, quite simply, the home of Railways cricket.