Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has become one of India’s most talked-about venues since opening in 2017.
This modern stadium can hold 50,000 fans and sits right in the middle of Ekana Sportz City.
What makes this ground special? The pitch is slow and helps spinners a lot. The boundaries are huge—63 to 70 meters.
These two things make batting really tough here.
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium Records in Test, ODIs, and T20I show clear patterns. Bowlers love this venue.
Batsmen struggle with the low bounce and big boundaries. Spinners get turn and grip throughout matches.
Since 2017, this stadium has hosted Tests, ODIs, T20 internationals, and IPL games.
Home to Lucknow Super Giants in IPL, this venue has quickly built a reputation.
The pitch behaves differently from most Indian grounds.
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium Records in Test, ODIs, and T20Is
Let’s dive deep into the numbers and see what really happens at Ekana across all formats.
Ekana Stadium: Key Facts & Overview
Before looking at records, here are the basic facts every cricket fan should know:
- Full Name: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
- Also Known As: Ekana International Cricket Stadium
- Location: Ekana Sportz City, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
- Opened: 2017
- Seating Capacity: 50,000 spectators
- Home Teams:
- Uttar Pradesh (Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket)
- Lucknow Super Giants (Indian Premier League)
- Floodlights: Yes (suitable for day-night matches)
- Boundary Dimensions:
- Shortest boundary: 63 meters
- Longest boundary: 70 meters
- Bowling Ends: North End and South End
These numbers matter. The 70-meter boundaries are among the longest in India. Clearing them needs perfect timing, not just power.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Lucknow Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling?
Understanding the pitch is crucial to understanding the records here.
Surface Characteristics
- Type: Black soil surface
- Nature: Slow and low-bouncing
- Turn: Helps spinners significantly
- Pace: Not much carry for fast bowlers
How does the Pitch behave?
The pitch at Ekana doesn’t offer bounce or pace. Fast bowlers struggle to extract movement. The ball doesn’t come onto the bat nicely.
Spinners get a natural grip here. The black soil helps turn from day one. As matches progress, the surface gets slower and lower.
Batting Challenges
Batsmen face three main problems:
- Low bounce makes timing difficult
- Slow pitch reduces shot power
- Massive boundaries punish mishits
Big hitting is tough here. Even well-connected shots sometimes don’t clear the rope. Placement matters more than power.
Bowling Advantages
Spinners love this ground. They get turn, grip, and variable bounce. Middle overs become crucial in all formats.
Fast bowlers need variations. Cutters, slower balls, and yorkers work better than raw pace.
Lucknow Stadium Pitch Report: Batting or Bowling Verdict
Clear answer: This pitch favours bowling, especially spin bowling.
Dew Factor
Good news for bowlers—dew doesn’t play a huge role here. Unlike some Indian venues, Ekana’s conditions stay relatively consistent throughout matches.
Toss Strategy
Captains prefer batting first. Setting a target works better than chasing on a pitch that gets tougher.
Test Match Records at Ekana Stadium: Bowlers’ Paradise
Only one Test match has been played at Ekana. But that single game told us everything about Test cricket here.
Test Cricket Statistics
| Category | Numbers |
|---|---|
| Total Test matches | 1 |
| Matches won batting first | 0 |
| Matches won bowling first | 1 (West Indies) |
| Average 1st innings score | 187 runs |
| Average 2nd innings score | 277 runs |
| Average 3rd innings score | 120 runs |
| Average 4th innings score | 33 runs |
| Highest total recorded | 277/10 (West Indies vs Afghanistan, 83.3 overs) |
| Lowest total recorded | 120/10 (Afghanistan vs West Indies, 43.1 overs) |
| Highest chase completed | 33/1 (West Indies, 6.2 overs) |
Look at the 3rd innings average—just 120 runs. Afghanistan collapsed badly batting third. The 4th innings show 33 because the West Indies needed barely any runs to win.
Test Century Record
Only one Test hundred has been scored at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cricket Stadium:
| Player | Score | Team | Balls Faced | Opposition | Date | Match Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shamarh Brooks | 111* | West Indies | 214 balls | Afghanistan | November 28, 2019 | West Indies won |
Brooks’ 111 not out took 214 deliveries. That’s patience and grit. He faced almost 36 overs for his century. The pitch gave him nothing easy.
Test Bowling Records: Five-Wicket Hauls
Two bowlers took five-wicket hauls in that one Test:
| Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Innings | Overs Bowled | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahkeem Cornwall | 7/75 | West Indies | Afghanistan | 1st innings | 25.3 overs | November 27, 2019 |
| Hamza Hotak | 5/74 | Afghanistan | West Indies | 2nd innings | 28.3 overs | November 27, 2019 |
Cornwall’s 7-wicket haul destroyed Afghanistan. He bowled long spells and used the pitch perfectly. Both are spin bowlers—that says everything about this surface.
Why Tests Favour Bowlers at Ekana?
The numbers don’t lie. The average first innings score is 187. That’s really low for Test cricket. Most teams score 300+ in the first innings elsewhere.
The pitch offers a turn from day one. It gets slower as the match progresses. Batting becomes harder with each passing day.
Test cricket here is a bowler’s dream and a batsman’s nightmare.
ODI Records at Ekana Cricket Stadium: Chasing Works Better
Fourteen ODI matches have been played at Ekana. The statistics reveal interesting trends.
ODI Match Statistics
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total ODI matches | 14 |
| Matches won batting first | 4 |
| Matches won bowling first | 10 |
| Average 1st innings score | 226 runs |
| Average 2nd innings score | 205 runs |
| Highest ODI total | 311/7 (South Africa vs Australia, October 2023) |
| Lowest ODI total | 129/10 (England vs India) |
| Highest successful chase | 269/3 (South Africa Women vs India Women) |
| Lowest total defended | 248/5 (India Women vs South Africa Women) |
The big story: 10 out of 14 ODI matches were won by chasing teams. That’s a 71% success rate for teams batting second.
Why? Teams know the target. They can pace their innings better. The pitch doesn’t break down as badly in 50-over games as it does in Tests.
ODI Batting Records: Top Run-Scorers
Most runs scored at Ekana in ODIs:
| Rank | Player | Country | Total Runs at Ekana |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shai Hope | West Indies | 229 runs |
| 2 | Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 157 runs |
| 3 | Rahmat Shah | Afghanistan | 156 runs |
Shai Hope leads by a big margin. He’s played multiple matches here and understands the pitch well. His game suits Ekana—rotating strike, playing straight, waiting for bad balls.
ODI Centuries at Ekana
Only three ODI hundreds have been scored here:
| Player | Score | Team | Balls Faced | Opposition | Date | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shai Hope | 109* | West Indies | 145 | Afghanistan | November 11, 2019 | Men’s ODI |
| Quinton de Kock | 109 | South Africa | 106 | Australia | October 12, 2023 | Men’s ODI |
| Lizelle Lee | 132* | South Africa | 132 | India | March 12, 2021 | Women’s ODI |
Lizelle Lee’s 132 not out is the highest individual score in ODI cricket at this venue. She paced her innings brilliantly—132 runs off 132 balls shows perfect strike rotation.
Highest ODI Score: South Africa’s 311/7
South Africa holds the record for the highest ODI team total at Ekana. They scored 311/7 against Australia in October 2023.
Lucknow Cricket Stadium last match scorecard from that game shows Quinton de Kock’s explosive 109 off 106 balls led the way. Heinrich Klaasen also contributed significantly.
Australia chased hard but fell short. Even 311 was defensible on this pitch.
ODI Bowling Records
Most wickets at Ekana: Dilshan Madushanka (Sri Lanka) – 7 wickets
Madushanka uses variations perfectly. His cutters and slower balls work brilliantly on this slow surface.
What Lucknow Cricket Stadium Records Tell Us?
The Lucknow Cricket Stadium records in ODIs show that 220-240 is a competitive total. Anything above 270 puts pressure on chasing teams.
But chase carefully. Ten successful chases in 14 matches prove that knowing the target helps batsmen plan better.
T20I Records at Ekana Stadium: Fast Cricket, Slow Pitch
Nine T20 internationals have been played here. The format speeds up, but the pitch stays slow.
T20I Statistics:
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Total T20I matches | 9 |
| Matches won batting first | 5 |
| Matches won bowling first | 4 |
| Average 1st innings score | 151 runs |
| Average 2nd innings score | 126 runs |
| Highest T20I total | 199/2 (India vs Sri Lanka) |
| Lowest T20I total | Not recorded (incomplete data) |
| Highest chase completed | 159/4 (South Africa Women vs India Women) |
| Lowest score defended | 156/8 (Afghanistan vs West Indies) |
Batting first has a slight edge—5 wins versus 4 for chasing teams. The 151 average first innings score is decent but not high by T20 standards.
Compare this to IPL venues where 180+ is routine. Ekana keeps scores in check.
T20I Batting Record: Rohit’s Special Century
Ekana Stadium highest score in T20 internationals belongs to Rohit Sharma:
| Player | Score | Team | Balls Faced | Strike Rate | Opposition | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 111* | India | 61 balls | 181.97 | West Indies | November 6, 2018 |
Rohit’s unbeaten 111 off 61 balls is the only T20I century at Ekana. His strike rate of 181.97 shows he didn’t just survive—he dominated.
This innings had massive sixes that cleared those 70-meter boundaries. Rohit showed that aggressive batting can work here if you time the ball perfectly.
T20I Bowling Record: Karim Janat’s Special Spell
| Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Overs | Economy | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karim Janat | 5/11 | Afghanistan | West Indies | 4 overs | 2.75 | November 16, 2019 |
Janat’s 5 wickets for 11 runs is incredible in T20 cricket. An economy of 2.75 in the shortest format shows complete control.
He used the pitch’s slow nature brilliantly. His spell destroyed the West Indies’ batting lineup.
Ekana Cricket Stadium T20 Records Scorecard Analysis
The Ekana Cricket Stadium T20 Records scorecard across matches shows patterns:
- Scores between 140-170 are competitive
- Spinners take crucial middle-over wickets
- Death bowling becomes easier due to the pitch grip
- Power-hitting is difficult but not impossible
IPL Records at Ekana Stadium: Home of Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants call Ekana home. IPL cricket here has its own character.
IPL Performance Patterns
Ekana cricket stadium records ipl show these trends:
- First innings scores usually 165-190
- Slightly higher than international T20s
- Spinners still dominate the middle overs
- Big boundaries challenge power-hitters
- Close finishes are common
Why IPL Scores Are Higher?
IPL teams have specialist power-hitters. They know the ground better through practice. Franchise cricket brings more aggressive batting.
But even in IPL, defending 170 is possible with smart bowling.
Ekana Cricket Stadium IPL Records Scorecard Highlights
Lucknow stadium T20 records ipl scorecard examples show:
- LSG prefers batting first at home
- Spinners play crucial roles for both teams
- Middle-order batting determines outcomes
- Death bowling decides close games
Key IPL Observations
The Ekana cricket stadium T20 records ipl prove this venue rewards tactical cricket over blind aggression. Teams need strategy, not just power.
Smart placement beats wild swinging. Rotating strike matters as much as boundaries.
Boundary Dimensions: Why Size Matters?
The boundary sizes at Ekana directly impact all records here.
Exact Measurements
- Shortest boundary: 63 meters
- Longest boundary: 70 meters
- Square boundaries: 63-65 meters
- Straight boundaries: 68-70 meters
Impact on Records
These massive boundaries create several effects:
For batsmen:
- Mishits don’t go for six
- Timing matters more than power
- Running between wickets becomes crucial
- Singles and twos become important
For bowlers:
- Mistakes get punished less
- Yorkers and slower balls work better
- Spinners can attack without fear
- Death bowling becomes easier
For T20/IPL cricket:
- Scores stay 20-30 runs lower than on smaller grounds
- Power-hitters struggle
- Smart batsmen succeed
- All-rounders become valuable
The boundaries explain why the Ekana cricket stadium records scorecard totals across formats stay relatively low compared to other venues.
India’s Overall Record at Ekana Stadium
How has India performed at this home venue across formats?
Test Cricket
India hasn’t played a Test match at Ekana yet. The only Test was West Indies versus Afghanistan.
ODI Cricket
India has played several ODIs here with mixed results:
- Won some crucial matches
- Strong bowling performances
- Batting required a tactical approach
- Spinners played key roles
T20I Cricket
India’s T20I record includes memorable moments:
- Rohit Sharma’s 111* century
- India vs Sri Lanka high-scoring game (199/2)
- Good winning record overall
- Home advantage works well
Overall Assessment
India understands this pitch well. Their spinners exploit conditions brilliantly. Batsmen have learned to build innings patiently.
The venue favours India’s bowling-heavy strategy. Having quality spinners helps a lot at Ekana.
Format-Wise Ranking: Hardest to Easiest at Ekana
Let’s rank all three formats based on difficulty for batsmen:
Rank 1: Test Cricket (Hardest)
- Average first innings: 187 runs
- Why it’s toughest: Pitch deteriorates badly, spinners dominate, low bounce increases, batting becomes nearly impossible by day 4-5
- Evidence: Only one century in one Test, a 7-wicket haul by a spinner, and averages drop dramatically in the 3rd innings
Test cricket at Ekana is brutal for batsmen.
Rank 2: ODI Cricket (Balanced)
- Average first innings: 226 runs
- Why it’s moderate: 50 overs allow innings building, dew doesn’t factor much, chasing teams succeed often
- Evidence: Only 3 centuries in 14 matches, but 10 successful chases show it’s manageable
ODIs offer a balance between bat and ball here.
Rank 3: T20I/IPL (Relatively Easier)
- Average first innings: 151 runs (T20I), 165-190 (IPL)
- Why it’s easiest: Shorter format reduces pitch impact, aggressive batting can work, power-play overs crucial
- Evidence: Rohit’s 111*, some 190+ scores in IPL, better run rates than other formats
T20 cricket at Ekana is still challenging but more batting-friendly than Tests or ODIs.
Overall Verdict
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium Records in Test, ODIs, and T20I clearly show this venue tests batsmen across all formats. But the difficulty level varies significantly.
Tests are nightmares. ODIs are tough but fair. T20s give batsmen more chances.
Upcoming Matches at Ekana
Cricket fans have something to look forward to:
India vs South Africa, 4th T20I
- Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
- Time: 1:30 PM IST
- Series: South Africa tour of India, 2025
This match will add more data to the Ekana cricket stadium records T20. Fans will see how both teams handle the conditions.
Conclusion: What Makes Ekana Unique?
BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium has carved its own identity in just 8 years. The statistics across all formats tell a consistent story.
This venue rewards skill over power. Spinners love it. Batsmen must earn every run. The massive boundaries change game strategies.
What we’ve learned:
- Test cricket is incredibly difficult here
- ODI chasing teams have a big advantage
- T20 cricket stays competitive but controlled
- Spin bowling dominates all formats
- Boundary dimensions impact every match
The pitch’s slow, low nature makes it different from most Indian grounds.
Combined with 70-meter boundaries, Ekana creates tactical challenges rarely seen elsewhere.
For Lucknow Cricket Stadium records across formats, one pattern stands out: patience and strategy beat aggression and power. That’s what makes this stadium special.
Cricket here isn’t about smashing sixes. It’s about smart batting, clever bowling, and tactical brilliance.
As more matches get played at Ekana, these records will evolve.
But the core character will stay a bowler-friendly venue where batsmen must work hard for runs.
That’s the essence of cricket at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
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