JAIPUR: The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur took centre stage during Rajasthan Royals’ contest against Sunrisers Hyderabad after a run of dropped chances in the field drew attention. The unusual number of missed catches triggered debate across IPL circles, with many linking the problem to the venue’s newly installed floodlights, which were put in place ahead of the 2026 season.
Floodlights upgrade raises new on-field challenges
Rajasthan Royals’ players have reportedly struggled initially to adapt to the stronger glare and the changed lighting conditions created by the new LED system. While the updated fixtures are designed to deliver brighter illumination and clearer sightlines, the transition has not been seamless for fielders who are used to different light behaviour under older setups.
Sangakkara explains the adjustment process
Royals head coach Kumar Sangakkara addressed the issue, saying the club has been working through the learning curve that comes with a major change in ground lighting. He praised the redevelopment while also acknowledging that fielders need time to recalibrate their depth perception and tracking under the new brightness.
“I think they have done a great job with redoing the floodlights. They’re LED lights, and then you know, they're quite different to what we are used to in other grounds. They are much brighter and give a larger amount of visibility. So we have been trying to see what the right adjustment is so that the fielders are comfortable and they don’t lose the ball in the glare of the lights,” Sangakkara said.
He further noted that the team has held discussions with ground staff and that adjustments to the lighting setup were attempted to reduce the glare effect. Sangakkara also suggested that the response from the stadium management has improved conditions since the early phase.
“So we’ve spoken to the ground authorities and they have tried to lower or extend or change the direction of the lights. And in the second game, I think it was fine. It’s never easy when the lights are in a glare, but I think they have done a great job with the ability to adjust that as well, so it’s great for modern technology to have such good lighting,” he added.
What the numbers say: Sawai Mansingh Stadium lux jump
The updated lighting at the SMS Stadium now reaches a maximum of 3,500 lux, marking a major step up for the venue. The change is especially notable given that the ground had been the lowest in the league for light levels until the previous year.
- Maximum light level at SMS Stadium: 3,500 lux
- Previous status: among the lowest lux levels in the IPL until last year
- Timing of installation: new LED floodlights installed just before the start of the 2026 season
