Tata Steel, which won a bid as an Indian Super League (ISL) franchisee last week, has riveted its attention to relay the greens at JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur where nine ILS matches are to be played.

As a part of its Rs 40-crore renovation plan for the stadium, the company is planning to relay the turf with Princess 77, a variant of Bermuda grass, to provide a softer cushion for players.

"Other infrastructure apart, our main focus is on the greens which will be re-laid. The new soil will replace the existing one which is a bit hard and Princess 77 grass will form the top surface," a senior official of Tata Steel sports wing, who is in the know of ISL-related preparations, said.

According to the official, the profile of the ground will undergo a total change as per ISL standards.

"Approval for setting up new infrastructure, including the ground, has already come and we are already working out logistics. The entire infrastructure will be in place by the end of October," the official added.

ISL, he said, was likely to start in the second week of November. "The fixture is generally out in October but it has been postponed to November because of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup to be held between October 6 and 28. We have ample time at our disposal but we have to execute the job on a war footing. After all, ISL is a huge event," he said.

A ground staffer said the greens, measuring 102m by 67m, was a bit hard and had a mixture of Bermuda grass. "Princess 77 grass will make the ground softer," he added.

S.B. Singh, chief curator of Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA), said Princess 77 was a dense and fine textured hybrid Bermuda grass.

"Such type of grass is drought resistant and requires less water. Evaporation of leaf is very medium and the roots remain intact. Princess 77 is suitable for the climatic condition of Jamshedpur and Ranchi," Singh, who is pursuing a PhD on cricket pitches, explained to The Telegraph.

According to him, seeding was generally not recommended for growing such types of grass. Instead, he suggested, the Tatas opt for laying the grass directly.

"Percentage of germination is not suitable in such conditions where heat plays a major role. A sizeable portion of seeds will die," said Singh, whose suggestions were sought by the state sports department for a turnaround of Birsa Munda Football Stadium in Morabadi, Ranchi.