The Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground stands as the ultimate proving ground for India’s rising stars. Beyond the glitz of the main arena, this tactical powerhouse offers world-class dual-soil pitches and expansive boundaries. It is where raw domestic talent meets professional grit, defining the future of Lucknow’s rich cricketing legacy.
Core Identity: Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground
Feature
Details
Official Name
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground
Location
Sector 7, Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India
2017 (as part of the larger Ekana Sportz City project)
Owner / Operator
Ekana Sportz City (Public-Private Partnership)
Seating Capacity
~500–1,000 (Primarily designed for practice/viewing galleries)
Pitch Soil Type
Dual Soil (Mumbai Red Soil & Local Lucknow Black Soil)
Boundary Dimensions
~78M Square Boundaries & ~80M Straight Boundaries
Floodlights
Yes (World-class LEDs for Day/Night sessions)
Drainage System
Next-gen multi-layer system (Play resumes within 20 mins of rain)
Practice Facilities
19+ Outdoor Practice Pitches and Dedicated Indoor Nets
Home Teams
Uttar Pradesh Men/Women, Lucknow Super Giants (Training)
The Evolution of Ekana: A Historical Timeline
Year / Milestone
Historical Event & Impact on B Ground
2014: The Foundation
Construction begins on the Ekana Sportz City project under a public-private partnership. The B Ground was planned from day one as a dedicated domestic and training hub.
2017: Soft Opening
The B Ground becomes operational before the main stadium. It begins hosting Ranji Trophy matches for Uttar Pradesh, providing a lush, green alternative to the old city grounds.
2018: International Debut
While the main stadium hosted India vs West Indies (T20I), the B Ground served as the primary warm-up and training base, hosting its first international practice sessions.
2019: The Afghan Connection
Afghanistan adopts Ekana as its “home ground.” The B Ground sees heavy use for A-Team tours and extended training camps for global stars like Rashid Khan.
2021: The Bio-Bubble Era
During the pandemic, the B Ground becomes a critical “secure zone” for domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, hosting multiple back-to-back T20s.
2022: Enter the Giants
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are formed. The B Ground is upgraded with specific red-soil tracks to help the IPL team prepare for away games in Mumbai and Pune.
2023: World Cup Refurbishment
Ahead of the ICC ODI World Cup, the B Ground undergoes a massive re-turfing process alongside the main stadium to ensure soil consistency across both surfaces.
2025–26: The Tech Revolution
Installation of advanced pitch-moisture sensors and AI-driven drainage monitoring, making the B Ground one of the most technologically advanced training pitches in Asia.
Pitch Dynamics: Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground
Pitch Attribute
Behavior & Tactical Impact
Soil Type Influence
Initial Bounce
Medium to Low. The ball often stays below the waist, making horizontal bat shots (like pulls) risky .
Black Soil: Produces a heavy, low bounce that “dies” on the pitch .
Pace & Carry
Moderate. It is not a “highway” for fast bowlers; instead, it rewards hit-the-deck pacers .
Red Soil: Offers extra “zip” and carry to the keeper, helping seamers early
Spin Support
Elite Assistance. The surface is famous for “gripping,” allowing spinners to turn the ball even with the new cherry .
Black Soil: Turns into a “tacky” deck by the 10th over, making middle overs a run-scoring struggle .
Batting Difficulty
Moderate to High. 200+ scores are rare; 160 is a match-winning “par” total .
Both: Requires technical “waiting game” batting rather than raw power-hitting .
Outfield Speed
Fast but Tricky. World-class drainage keeps the grass lush, but long boundaries (80m) make 4s harder than 2s .
N/A: Consistent across both soil variations.
Boundary Dimensions: Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground
Boundary Angle
Length (Meters)
Tactical Difficulty
Straight Boundary
80 Meters
One of the longest in India; requires immense power to clear.
Square Boundaries
78 Meters
Extremely wide; makes “pick-up” shots toward mid-wicket difficult.
Fine Leg / Third Man
65–70 Meters
The only “shorter” areas, often targeted by creative batters.
Long On / Long Off
80+ Meters
A nightmare for finishers; usually requires hard running for doubles.
Ekana B Ground: T20 Average Score & Wicket Analytics (2024–2026)
Metric
1st Innings (Average)
2nd Innings (Average)
Impact on Match Strategy
Average Score
158 Runs
142 Runs
Bat-First Advantage: The pitch slows down significantly under the sun/lights.
Average Wickets
7.2 Wickets
8.1 Wickets
Late Collapses: Scoring becomes harder as the ball gets softer and the pitch drier.
Wicket-Type Split
Spin: 58%
Pace: 42%
The Spin Squeeze: Spinners account for the majority of middle-over dismissals.
Top Batting Performers: Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground
Player
Team
Format / Match
Runs Scored
Impact & Style
Ishan Kishan
Jharkhand
Syed Mushtaq Ali (2025/26)
113*
Explosive opener; holds the record for highest individual T20 score on the B Ground
Anmolpreet Singh
Punjab
Syed Mushtaq Ali (2025/26)
113
Technically sound; matched Kishan’s century with a high-strike-rate masterclass
Devdutt Padikkal
Karnataka
First-Class (Ranji 2026)
232
The “Marathon Man”; holds the highest First-Class score on this surface
Suryakumar Yadav
Mumbai
Domestic T20 (2025)
Runs: 300+
Known for “360-degree” play; has one of the highest strike rates (129.85)
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Maharashtra
Domestic T20
Span: 2021-26
Consistent run-getter; averages over 33.80 across multiple seasons in Lucknow
Top Bowling Performers: Ekana Cricket Stadium B Ground
Bowler
Team
Format / League
Key Stat / Wickets
Impact & Tactical Edge
Ashok Sharma
Rajasthan
Syed Mushtaq Ali (25/26)
22 Wickets
Leading wicket-taker of the season; mastered the “Lucknow squeeze.”
Sushant Mishra
Jharkhand
Syed Mushtaq Ali (25/26)
22 Wickets
Lethal left-arm pace; consistently broke opening partnerships on this surface.
Auqib Nabi
J & K
Ranji Trophy (25/26)
60 Wickets
Historic season; led J&K to their first title with a relentless 12.56 average.
Yash Thakur
Vidarbha / LSG
Domestic & IPL Training
18 Wickets (SMAT)
The “local specialist”; his knowledge of the B Ground bounce makes him nearly unplayable.
Anukul Roy
Jharkhand
Syed Mushtaq Ali (25/26)
18 Wickets
Named “Player of the Series” for his ability to choke run-rates in the middle overs.
Mukhtar Hussain
Assam
Domestic T20 (2025)
BBI: 6/20
Holds one of the best individual T20 bowling figures at this venue.
Elite Training & Playing Facilities
Facility
Technical Specifications & Details
Practice Pitches
19+ Outdoor Pitches featuring both Mumbai red soil and local black soil to simulate diverse match conditions
Indoor Academy
State-of-the-art indoor nets equipped with advanced bowling machines for all-weather practice
Floodlights
Professional-grade LED floodlights allowing for high-intensity night training sessions and day/night domestic matches .
Video Analysis
Integrated coaching technology and high-speed cameras for real-time player performance tracking and tactical review .
Drainage System
World-class sub-surface drainage that allows play to resume within 20 minutes of heavy rainfall .
Conclusion
As a cornerstone of Ekana Sportz City, the B Ground is more than a practice turf; it is a high-performance sanctuary. Through its elite facilities and challenging dimensions, it continues to bridge the gap between domestic grinds and international glory, ensuring Lucknow remains the beating heart of Indian cricket.
