New Chandigarh Stadium Celebrates Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur
In a heartening ceremony preceding the second T20 International match between India and South Africa, the New Chandigarh Stadium honored two of India's finest cricketers, Yuvraj Singh and Harmanpreet Kaur, by unveiling stands named after them. The event, which took place on Thursday, December 11, 2025, saw the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, along with family and friends of both players.
Yuvraj Singh, celebrated for his pivotal role in India's 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup victories, where he was also named Player of the Tournament, was visibly moved by the gesture. Harmanpreet Kaur, who recently led the Indian Women's team to their first-ever ICC Women's Cricket World Cup title, shared the stage with Yuvraj, marking a historic moment for women's cricket in India. She is also the third Indian woman cricketer to have a stand named after her.
The Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) led the inauguration, with PCA President Amarjit Mehta and BCCI President Mithun Manhas in attendance. The stadium already has a pavilion named after Harbhajan Singh. Now, Harmanpreet's name is on the stand across from the sightscreen. The officiating Secretary of the PCA, Siddhant Sharma, had previously announced the decision to honor the two cricketers with stands named after them. The PCA also presented cash rewards to Punjab players Harmanpreet Kaur and Amanjot Kaur during the ceremony.
Adding to the excitement, Yuvraj Singh was seen sharing words of encouragement with the Indian team during their huddle before the match. Photos of Yuvraj interacting with players quickly gained traction on social media. India won the toss and chose to bowl first in the match held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, which is hosting its first men's international cricket match, becoming the 55th venue in India to do so. India is aiming to extend their lead in the five-match series, having won the first match by 101 runs.
India is approaching the series as an audition for the 2026 T20 World Cup. After India's commanding victory in the series opener, Yuvraj's presence provided a further boost to the team's morale. Yuvraj's presence aimed to sustain India’s winning momentum. Suryakumar Yadav emphasized the importance of players understanding their roles and responsibilities. He also praised Hardik Pandya's all-around performance and his ability to handle pressure situations.
