The BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium or Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium was established in the city of Lucknow in 2017.
Formerly known as the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, the ground is owned by Ekana Sportz City Pvt Ltd., a project by the Uttar Pradesh state government under a public-private partnership (PPP) policy.
The BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, with a seating capacity of 50,000, is the only active venue for international cricket matches in Lucknow.
The first international match at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium was played between India and West Indies. Ahead of the fixture, the venue was renamed in honour of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The fixture, which India won by 71 runs, saw Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma hit his fourth century in T20 Internationals - a record for most T20I centuries in cricket history.
Since then, there have been four T20I matches played at the stadium. Besides India, the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium was the third home ground for the Afghanistan cricket team in 2019.
Furthemore, the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium is also home to the Uttar Pradesh cricket team and new Indian T20 League side Team Lucknow.
Let’s have a look at the T20 records at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, India.
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium T20I records
Highest team total: India’s 199/2 against Sri Lanka is the highest T20I score at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. Ishan Kishan’s 89 off just 56 balls propelled the Men in Blue side to a big score against the Lankans, who managed just 137/6 in response.
Lowest team total: Batting first, New Zealand were restricted to 99/8 against India in January 2023, the lowest team total at the venue.
Most runs: India opener Rohit Sharma has scored 155 T20I runs in two matches at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium - the most by any batter. The Mumbai-born batter hit an unbeaten 61-ball 111 against West Indies at the venue, with the knock also qualifying as the highest individual score in T20I matches at the ground.
Highest partnership: Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan’s 123-run stand for the opening wicket against West Indies in 2018 is the highest partnership at this venue. The record stand saw Rohit contribute 72 runs while Dhawan added 43 prior to his dismissal.
Most wickets: West Indian pacer Kesrick Williams has taken the most T20I wickets at this ground. He has eight wickets at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow at an economy rate of 5.91.
Best bowling figures: Karim Janat has the best bowling figures at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. The Afghanistan pacer claimed five wickets for just 11 runs against West Indies in a 2019 T20 match, which AFG won by 41 runs.
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium T20 records
Highest team total: Team Kolkata’s 235/6 against Team Lucknow during an Indian T20 League 2024 match is the highest T20 score at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. Sunil Narine’s 81 off 39 balls along with contributions from Phil Salt (32), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (32), Ramandeep Singh (25 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (23) powered Kolkata to a record T20 total at the venue. In reply, Punjab were bowled out for 137 in 16.1 overs as Kolkata won the game comprehensively by 98 runs.
Lowest team total: Sikkim’s 51 in a 2022 SMAT match against Chhattisgarh is currently the lowest total in a T20 match at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Sikkim, who elected to bat first, were bundled out for 52 in 14.5 overs. Later, Chhattisgarh chased down the target in 6.1 overs.
Most runs: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has scored 305 runs at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium - the most by any batter. In six innings at the venue, he has averaged 61 and boasts a strike rate of 134.95.
Highest individual score: Prabhsimran Singh holds the record for the highest individual score in T20s at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium. Opening for Punjab in their 2021-22 SMAT match against Goa, Prabhsimran slammed 11 fours and six sixes during his unbeaten knock of 119 off 61 balls.
Highest partnership: Chandigarh's Gaurav Puri and Ankit Kaushik’s 159-run stand for the third wicket against Sikkim in 2022 is the highest partnership in T20s at this venue. The record stand saw Gaurav Puri score 93 not out while Ankit Kaushik contributed 65.
Most wickets: Naveen-ul-Haq and Ravi Bishnoi have taken the most T20 wickets at this ground. While pacer Naveen-ul-Haq has scalped 15 wickets in 12 matches, the young leg-spinner has already picked up 15 T20 wickets in 14 games at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Featured image: AFP / Money Sharma
