The Ekana Cricket Stadium, also identified as the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, has gained prominence as a prominent global cricket platform situated in the city of Lucknow, India. With a seating capacity of 50,000, the stadium ranks as the fifth largest cricket venue within the nation. The stadium occupies a notable position within the annals of Indian cricket, owing to its role as a venue for numerous international matches and as a witness of exceptional performances from players hailing from various regions of the world. In 2017, Akhilesh Yadav launched the Ekana Cricket Stadium which was subsequently rebranded to commemorate the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Since its inception, this sporting arena has emerged as an emblem of solidarity and exquisite athletic prowess in India.
History
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, popularly referred to as the Ekana Cricket Stadium, is an internationally recognized cricket venue situated in Lucknow, India. With a seating capacity of 50,000 spectators, it occupies the fifth position in the hierarchy of the largest international cricket stadiums in India. The construction of the stadium was undertaken by Akhilesh Yadav in the year 2017, who took the initiative to establish such an arena. Initially, the stadium was christened as “Ekana Cricket Stadium,” which is a Sanskrit term symbolizing “unity” or “one. " Later, it underwent a name change by Yogi Adityanath, in commemoration of the erstwhile Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The aforementioned stadium boasts the longest straight boundaries amongst all Indian stadiums, and functions as the designated home ground for both the Uttar Pradesh cricket team and the IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants. In 2019, the national cricket team of Afghanistan opted to utilize the site as their primary home venue.
The construction of an exceptional stadium of international repute was initiated in 2014 through a collaborative effort between the public and private sectors in the form of a public-private partnership between the Ekana Sportz City and the Lucknow Development Authority. The partnership agreement entailed a thirty-five-year lease of seventy-one acres to Ekana Sportz City for the purpose of constructing a cricket stadium. This lease is anticipated to remain in effect through the year 2052. The stadium was constructed with a financial allocation of INR 360 crores, equivalent to 3. 6 billion in Indian Rupees.
Prior to its global unveiling, the Ekana Stadium served as the venue for the culmination of the 2017-18 Duleep Trophy. The 3rd One Day International cricket match between India and New Zealand, originally scheduled for 27 October 2017, was initially assigned to a particular venue which was deemed incomplete. As a result, the match was relocated to Kanpur. On the 6th of November, 2018, Lucknow’s stadium commemorated its inaugural international match, a Twenty 20 International (T20I) affair which featured India and the West Indies. This occasion was significant as it marked the resumption of international cricket to Lucknow, a hiatus that spanned 24 years. The aforementioned contest presented a noteworthy occurrence with the emergence of Rohit Sharma as the initial athlete to garner four centuries in the context of Twenty20 Internationals within the realm of cricket.
In May of 2019, the Afghanistan Cricket Board submitted a formal request to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to utilize a specific venue for their international matches. Subsequently, in August of the same year, the BCCI granted the Afghanistan national cricket team permission to use the aforementioned venue as their third home location within India. This decision signifies a noteworthy development in the sporting relations between the two nations. During the 2019 Afghanistan vs West Indies series, all matches were held at the stadium which subsequently hosted its inaugural One Day International (ODI) fixture on the 6th of November, 2019, followed by its first Test match on the 27th of November, 2019.
In May 2022, the designated location was slated to host every contest of the fourth iteration of the Women’s T20 Challenge. Subsequently, the matches were relocated to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium situated in Pune.
The forthcoming 2023 season is anticipated to see the Lucknow Super Giants, an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, commence hosting their home matches at the stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declared a return to the previous home and away format for the league, pre-pandemic, specifically as it existed in the 2019 season.
T20 records
In the context of T20 International records, the most considerable team score achieved at the location in question is 195/2 by India against West Indies. The significant impetus behind this achievement stemmed from Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten score of 111. New Zealand’s team registered the most meager total of 99/8 in their match against India. Rohit Sharma currently holds the record for the highest individual score and most runs scored in T20 international matches at the stadium. The maximum collaborative effort witnessed at the stadium was a total of 123 runs, scored by Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in their partnership. In the present setting, it has been observed that Kesrick Williams, a pace bowler hailing from West Indies, has acquired the highest number of wickets in T20 International matches played at this venue. The aforementioned player has successfully secured eight dismissals during his T20I career. Karim Janat holds the record for the most impressive bowling figures at the stadium, attaining five wickets while conceding a mere 11 runs against West Indies, during a T20 match in the year 2019.
The 2021-22 SMAT fixture between Punjab and Goa at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium witnessed a notable achievement in domestic T20 cricket, as Punjab’s total of 197/4 stands as the loftiest score on this venue to date. The team total of 104 achieved by Goa against Maharashtra represents the nadir in the team’s performance. Prabhsimran Singh, a wicketkeeper-batter hailing from Punjab, has attained the highest run-scoring record of 182 at the stadium. Furthermore, he presently maintains the distinction of achieving the highest individual score in T20 matches played at the aforementioned stadium, exhibiting an insurmountable score of 119 runs off a total of 61 deliveries. The most notable collaborative performance in the realm of T20s at this specific location comprises a total of 118 runs, jointly achieved by Prabhsimran Singh and Shubman Gill. The cricketer Siddarth Kaul, hailing from India, has attained the maximized number of wickets at the said ground, amounting to a total of nine wickets.
ODI Records
The BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, referred to as the Ekana Cricket Stadium, has been the site of numerous noteworthy One Day International cricket records. The South Africa Women’s team achieved a score of 269/3, marking the highest total recorded in an ODI match at the stadium during the fourth ODI of their respective tour of India in 2021. The pinnacle score at this location in men’s cricket is 253/5, which was achieved by the West Indies during the third One Day International of the Afghanistan versus West Indies series.
The Ekana Cricket Stadium has registered the minimum cumulative score of 157/10 in an ODI event, specifically during the second ODI matchup between South Africa Women and India in 2021. The Afghanistan men’s cricket team recorded a score of 194 in the first One Day International match of the 2019 Afghanistan versus West Indies series, thereby setting the record for the lowest score in men’s cricket at the respective venue.
Lizelle Lee, a member of the South Africa Women’s cricket team, has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring the highest individual score at the current venue. During the third One Day International match of South Africa Women’s tour of India in 2021, Lee displayed an exceptional performance, accruing a score of 132*, a feat that stands unrivaled. In the male category, Shai Hope of West Indies stands as the sole player to have achieved a century at the aforementioned stadium.
In the realm of bowling statistics, Jhulan Goswami, an accomplished fast bowler, lays claim to the most impressive figures documented at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, with 4 wickets taken for a mere 42 runs. In 2019, during the Afghanistan vs West Indies series, Sheldon Cottrell, a paceman from the West Indies, attained the most notable bowling statistics for male players at this location with figures of 3/29 in the second ODI.
The most substantial alliance in One Day International (ODI) cricket at the Ekana Cricket Stadium was recorded as 169 runs, accomplished by the female duo from South Africa, namely Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt. In the realm of men’s cricket, the record for the highest third-wicket partnership belongs to West Indies’ cricketers, Shai Hope and Roston Chase. This feat was accomplished during the first One Day International match of the Afghanistan versus West Indies series in 2019, with a score of 163 runs.
Events
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, which is known colloquially as the Ekana Cricket Stadium, is an esteemed international cricket facility situated in Lucknow, India. With a seating capacity of 50,000, the aforementioned cricket stadium ranks as the fifth largest in the country. The aforementioned stadium, distinguished for possessing the longest rectilinear perimeters among all cricket venues in the country of India, was constructed under the auspices of Akhilesh Yadav during the year 2017. Subsequently, the aforementioned stadium underwent a renaming process as a tribute to the former Prime Minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The term “Ekana” originates from Sanskrit language and carries the dual meanings of “one” and “unity”.
Since its inauguration, the stadium has functioned as a host venue for a myriad of notable cricket matches and other significant events. Prior to its inauguration as an international cricket venue, the arena served as the location for the culminating match of the 2017-18 Duleep Trophy. On November 6, 2018, the first international cricket match was held at Lucknow after a twenty-four year hiatus, which featured a Twenty20 International (T20I) match between the Indian and West Indies cricket teams. During the inaugural match, Rohit Sharma achieved a notable milestone by becoming the first cricketer to score four centuries in T20Is. Furthermore, India emerged victorious with a significant margin of 71 runs.
It was in the year 2019 when the Afghanistan national cricket team designated a specific location as their main practice and competition area. This significant decision was made to establish a home ground for the team. In the same year, the Afghanistan Cricket Board formally requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India to allocate the aforementioned venue for hosting their international cricket matches. The sporting arena subsequently facilitated all encounters that transpired during the Afghanistan versus West Indies series, with its inaugural Test match transpiring on 27 November 2019.
In May of the year 2022, the aforementioned location was slated to host the entire set of matches for the fourth installment of the Women’s T20 Challenge. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the aforementioned matches were eventually relocated to the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium situated in Pune. The stadium is projected to serve as the venue for the home games of the IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, commencing from the 2023 season, in line with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) intention of reverting to the prior home and away structure.
In addition to cricket, the stadium has also served as a venue for other notable occasions. An event was held on 19 August 2021, in recognition of the exceptional athletic performance displayed by the medal-winning competitors at the 2020 Summer Olympics hosted in Tokyo. At the competition, Neeraj Chopra received the highest accolade as the sole Indian athlete to secure a gold medal in the discipline of javelin throw. On the 25th of March in the year 2022, the location served as the site for the induction ceremony of the Chief Minister, Shri Yogi Adityanath, and his cabinet members after their momentous victory in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. The event was graced with the presence of a multitude of esteemed officials, which notably included the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, and the Union Home Minister, Mr. Amit Shah
Famous matches
The BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium located in Lucknow, India, has been the venue for several significant cricket matches. Prior to its initial hosting of an international match, the stadium’s first significant event occurred when it served as the location for the final match of the 2017-18 Duleep Trophy. Initially, the stadium was designated to host the third One Day International match between India and New Zealand on the 27th of October in the year 2017. However, due to the incomplete state of the stadium, the event was relocated to Kanpur. The inaugural international cricket match at the venue occurred on November 6th, 2018, whereby a T20I match between India and the West Indies was conducted. The aforementioned cricket encounter denoted the resurgence of international cricket in Lucknow after a lull of 24 years. Significantly, Rohit Sharma achieved a milestone in cricket by becoming the inaugural player to accumulate four centuries in the Twenty20 International format during the aforementioned game, culminating in India’s triumph by a margin of 71 runs.
In May of 2019, the Afghanistan Cricket Board formally requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to consider utilizing the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium as a primary venue for their international matches. In August of 2019, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) designated the Afghanistan national cricket team’s third home venue in India. This occurred subsequent to their previous playing locations of Dehradun and Greater Noida. In 2019, the stadium served as the exclusive venue for the entirety of the Afghanistan versus West Indies series. On the 6th of November 2019, the venue organized its inaugural One Day International (ODI) match, followed by its premiere Test match on the 27th of November 2019.
The Women’s T20 Challenge of its fourth edition had been planned to take place at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in May 2022 as the sole venue for all its matches. The stadium has been purported as a possible venue for the home games of the Indian Premier League (IPL) team, namely Lucknow Super Giants, commencing from the 2023 season.
Numerous noteworthy individual displays of prowess have been documented at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. In November 2019, Shamarh Brooks, representing the West Indies cricket team, achieved the solitary Test century at the specific location in question. His score of 111 remained unbeaten during the match against Afghanistan. In an ODI match against Afghanistan, Shai Hope, a West Indies cricketer, demonstrated outstanding performance with an unbeaten score of 109, while Lizelle Lee, a female cricketer from South Africa, secured an unbeaten score of 132 in a women’s ODI match against India. In the realm of Twenty20 International cricket, Rohit Sharma representing the Indian national team, delivered an exceptional batting performance by achieving an unbeaten score of 111 runs against the West Indies. The aforementioned arena has correspondingly witnessed a remarkable display of expertise in cricket’s bowling discipline by Rahkeem Cornwall, representing the West Indian cricket team. Cornwall’s outstanding bowling feat amounted to seven wickets in a single Test match contested by his team against the Afghanistani squad.
FAQ
When was the first international match hosted at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium?
What was the first event hosted by BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium?
Why was the 3rd ODI between India and New Zealand in 2017 not held at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium as initially allocated?
Which cricketer scored the first century in T20Is at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium?
Why is the stadium significant for the Afghanistan Cricket Board?
Which event was scheduled to be hosted by the stadium in May 2022?
What IPL franchise is the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium considered to host from the 2023 season?
Who scored the only Test century at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium?
Who recorded the highest individual score in a women's ODI at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium?
Which bowler had an impressive performance at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, taking seven wickets in a Test match?
Conclusion
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium located in Lucknow, India, has made an indelible mark in the annals of cricket history subsequent to its founding in the year 2017. The stadium has attained a conspicuous position as a distinguished sporting venue in the nation, as it has hosted numerous international matches and experienced remarkable displays by players. Furthermore, it has become the native ground for multiple cricket teams and has also served as the venue for significant events beyond cricket. As it readies itself for the hosting of forthcoming IPL matches and persistently plays a pivotal function in the domain of Indian cricket, the Ekana Cricket Stadium substantiates the ardor, perseverance, and solidarity engendered by the game of cricket in India.