Come March 31, and the Kotla will wear a completely different look. Currently undergoing renovation work for the Indian Premier League, the contractors have been given March 31 as the deadline to install the floodlights for the Twenty20 tournament. The tournament starts on April 18. Delhi play their first encounter against Jaipur at the Kotla.

A cursory glance today would make one believe that the deadline is a rather stiff one, and is unlikely to be met. Floodlights need to grounded on massive steel structures, and only the holes have been dug up at the pavilion end and the foundation is being laid.

But if the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) is to be believed, then the work will be over within next ten days. “They have been given a deadline of March 31 and they have to complete it before that. Though the work might seem to be moving at a very slow pace, the contractors will complete it within ten days. Delhi will play a practice match before the start of the main league,” DDCA secretary SP Bansal said.

Bajaj, Philips, GE and Kapil Dev co-owned Dev-Musco had submitted their tenders for the flood lighting, but the DDCA Executive Committee awarded the contract to GE.