Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
Lucknow, India
Location
Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Capacity
Approximately 50,000
Established
2017
Home Team
India
Pitch Type
Black soil and red soil
Overview
One of the newest and most modern cricket grounds in India is Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium, located in Lucknow, India. It has very quickly developed into a key venue for IPL and international cricket matches. The stadium opened in 2017; since then, it has been host to several major tournaments and has become well known for its modern facilities.
Ekana Stadium is the home ground of the Lucknow Super Giants – a franchise in the IPL. It has an approximate 50,000 seating capacity, which makes it one of the largest cricket stadiums in India. Ekana Stadium was also part of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, thereby improving its international profile even more.
Before every game, fans often search for information about the Eeana Stadium pitch report, stadium capacity, boundary distance, average scores and IPL records. The boundary lines are quite long, and the pitch is a little slower than average; therefore, matches here are usually very competitive between batters and bowlers. As a result of having a balanced playing surface and modern facilities, the Eeana Stadium has quickly become an important part of the IPL schedule.
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium History
The Ekana Cricket Stadium was opened in Lucknow in 2017, part of an expansive project to make the city a sports hub. Today, it has been changed to Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, honouring Vajpayee, who was India’s prime minister from 1998 to 2004.
Prior to the opening of Ekana Stadium, there were no adequate venues for international cricket matches in Lucknow; all were played at smaller venues such as K. D. Singh Babu Stadium. With the new stadium, Lucknow has a new, modern, international-sized cricket stadium capable of hosting international-sized events.
Ekana Stadium became a worldwide name when it hosted multiple 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup matches. Ekana Stadium has also hosted matches for the Afghanistan national team while they have played their home games in India.
Today, the Ekana Stadium is critical to the IPL as the home ground of the Lucknow Super Giants.
Pitch Report
In Lucknow, before any IPL match is played at Ekana Stadium, an important topic amongst fans will be discussing the pitch report. Historically, this has been a spin-friendly bowling venue; however, during previous seasons, the pitch has slowly worn down as the game has progressed. That leads to difficulty in scoring, especially during the second innings of matches. The pitches have traditionally been made of black soil, which leads them to become slower as the match continues.
During some of the early matches taking place at Ekana, it was challenging for teams to score high amounts of runs due to how well spinners were able to grip the ball. Bowlers who rely on using variations and slower deliveries have had a lot of success at this stadium in previous seasons. However, recently the grounds crew at Ekana have created a balanced pitch by using both black and red soil, giving fast bowlers added bounce and pace as well.
In general, the average IPL match total at the Ekana Stadium is between 160 and 180; if a team scores over 190, they have likely posted a strong total, especially if it is a difficult chase with a slowing pitch. Fast bowlers get some assistance from seam movement during the powerplay, and spinners get assistance from the pitch in the middle overs.
The toss is strategic, as some teams prefer to bat first to set a target, especially since the pitch usually becomes slower throughout the game, but in night games, some captains may choose to chase if there is dew on the ground at night.
Boundary Length
Compared to several other IPL venues, Ekana Stadium’s boundary length is slightly bigger. Therefore, this will create a challenge for batters to hit sixes on a regular basis, and as a consequence of the larger dimensions, batters are encouraged to enjoy the use of a wide array of shots.
| Side | Length |
| Straight Boundary | 72 – 78 meters |
| Square Boundary | 65 – 70 meters |
| Long On / Long Off | 70 – 75 meters |
| Fine Leg / Third Man | 60 – 65 meters |
With straight boundaries of large distance, big hitters will find it much more difficult to hit longer balls than with square boundaries, which have a more favourable opportunity to score runs. Therefore, as a result of the larger dimensions, teams will be able to run the bases using smart shot placement; therefore, the bases would remain in place, and it would not solely favour using boundaries to score runs.
Larger boundary dimensions also assist bowlers, particularly spin bowlers, as bowlers have more opportunity to entice batters to play risky, long-distance shots out into the fielder’s reach.
Highest Score / Lowest Score (IPL)
| Record | Details |
| Highest IPL Team Score | 235/6 |
| Lowest IPL Team Score | 108 |
| Best IPL Batting Performance | KL Rahul – 103* |
| Best IPL Bowling Performance | Mark Wood – 5 wickets |
Average Score (IPL)
Average scores at Ekana Stadium in IPL matches indicate a moderate scoring ground.
| Format | Average Score |
| IPL First Innings Average | 165 |
| IPL Second Innings Average | 150 |
| Highest Successful Chase | 180+ |
| Average Powerplay Score | 45 |
Teams usually aim to score around 170 runs while batting first to stay competitive at this venue.
Toss Record
Ekana Stadium has a relatively equal record for winning games between teams batting first and teams batting second based on how many games each type of team has played at the stadium.
There have been some instances in previous IPL seasons where captains preferred to bat first due to the pitch slowing down as the game progressed. When pitches continue to slow down throughout a match, it makes it more difficult to chase big totals, particularly with spinners being able to exert greater control during the middle overs.
Weather conditions at night can also play a role in when teams choose to bat first or second based on if there is expected to be any dew present that evening. If the forecast predicts dew, captains will most often choose to bowl first so as to put their batters in a good position to chase down their target with optimal batting conditions.
Even with the advantage of winning the toss at Ekana, the team that wins the toss does not necessarily win the match but will make an impact on how the match will be played.
Best Players at this Stadium (IPL)
Several IPL players have delivered impressive performances at Ekana Stadium.
| Player | Record |
| KL Rahul | Most IPL runs at Ekana Stadium |
| Nicholas Pooran | Highest strike rate |
| Ravi Bishnoi | Most wickets |
| Mark Wood | Best bowling performance |
Upcoming Matches
| Match | Date | Time | Teams | Venue |
| 5 | Apr 01 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 19 | Apr 12 | 3:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 32 | Apr 22 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 38 | Apr 26 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 50 | May 07 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 59 | May 15 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
| 68 | May 23 | 7:30 PM | Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings | BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow |
IPL Matches at this Stadium
As the home ground of the Lucknow Super Giants, the Ekana stadium has witnessed many IPL matches played by teams from around the league.
| Match | Date | Teams | Winner |
| Match 1 | IPL 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Match 2 | IPL 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Match 3 | IPL 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings | Chennai Super Kings |
| Match 4 | IPL 2023 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians | Lucknow Super Giants |
| Match 5 | IPL 2024 | Lucknow Super Giants vs Kolkata Knight Riders | Kolkata Knight Riders |
Weather Report
Most of the time, the weather conditions in Lucknow will support the playing of cricket matches throughout the IPL season from March to May, having temperatures between 28 and 38 degrees Celsius, with evening games being better temperatures because of a slight temperature decrease after sunset, and humidity levels are relatively moderate, though at times helping fast bowlers swing balls during the early part of an innings.
Most likely there will not be an interruption due to rain during the IPL season in Lucknow, thus enabling matches to be played without significant interruption.
The winter months of November-March would offer cooler than average temperatures of 15-25 degrees Celsius and would be perfect for preparing international cricket matches.
Ekana will rarely be affected by weather at the time of an IPL match.
Ticket Booking Information
Those wishing to buy tickets for IPL games held at Ekana Stadium can find a number of authorised outlets where they can purchase tickets.
The following are examples of places where patrons can purchase tickets for IPL events:
- The official IPL website
- The BCCI ticket sale website
- BookMyShow, Paytminisder and other online sites like PaytmIndiser are examples of other online auction sites.
Ticket sales generally open two to three weeks prior to the start of an event, and ticket availability is generally determined by the seating category. The types of seating categories will be the same as the events.
In addition, patrons may also be able to procure tickets prior to event day from a ticket office at the stadium that has been authorised by BICC at the time of the event.
Location & How to Reach
The Ekana Stadium can be found in Gomti Nagar Extension in the city of Lucknow.
Location:
Gokarna Sports City, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
Nearest Airport:
Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (about 20 km)
Nearest Train Station:
Lucknow Charbagh Railway Stn (roughly 15 km).
Stadium access for visitors will include taxis, buses, metro links, and rideshares; plus, the facility is connected to the main thoroughfares throughout all of Lucknow, enabling easy access for event-goers attending IPL games.
FAQ
What is the capacity of Ekana Cricket Stadium?
Ekana Stadium has a seating capacity of around 50,000 spectators, making it one of the largest cricket stadiums in India.
Is the Ekana Stadium pitch batting friendly?
The pitch is generally balanced but slightly favors bowlers, especially spinners during the middle overs.
What is the average IPL score at Ekana Stadium?
The average first innings score in IPL matches at this stadium is around 165 runs.
What is the boundary length of Ekana Stadium?
Straight boundaries are approximately 72-78 meters, while square boundaries are about 65-70 meters.
Which IPL team plays at Ekana Stadium?
The stadium is the home ground of Lucknow Super Giants.
How can I book tickets for IPL matches?
Tickets can be booked through the official IPL website, BCCI portals, or ticket platforms such as BookMyShow.
Where is Ekana Stadium located?
The stadium is located in Lucknow in the Gomti Nagar Extension area.
