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Varanasi international cricket stadium – all you need to know: Images, cost, completion date, capacity

Varanasi International Cricket Stadium | All you need to know
by Wisden Staff 3 minute read

The newly announced Varanasi International Cricket Stadium will be built in Ganjari, Rajatalab, Varanasi: here’s all you need to know about India’s brand new international stadium, including estimated cost, completion date, capacity, and architecture.

On Saturday, September 23, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the upcoming Varanasi International Stadium in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. At the event, legendary Sachin Tendulkar was invited as one of the honorary guests. PM Modi was seen presenting Tendulkar with an official India cricket team jersey. Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Dilip Vengsarkar were the other notable attendees from the cricketing fraternity.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah, President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajeev Shukla were also present at the ceremony.

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India is already the home to the largest cricket stadium in the world. Opened in 2020, the Narendra Modi Stadium, the state-of-the-art venue can accommodate up to 1,32,000 spectators during a match.

The newly planned facility in PM’s parliamentary constituency is another feather on the long list of stadiums under the BCCI.

How much does it cost to build Varanasi International Stadium?

The government will shell out 450 crore INR (4 million GBP approx) to build the high-facility stadium in Uttar Pradesh. The BCCI will spend 330 crore INR (3.2 million GBP) from its pocket while the state government has spent 120 crore INR (0.8 million GBP) for the land acquisition.

Varanasi Cricket Stadium

The stadium will reportedly have floodlights shaped in the Indian Hindu deity Shiva’s spear (Trishul)

What is the completion date of the stadium in Varanasi?

In an area in Varanasi’s Ganjari, spanning 30 acres, the stadium is expected to be completed by December 2025.

What is the capacity of India’s latest cricket stadium?

A total of 30,000 people can sit at one time during a match in what will be the third stadium in Uttar Pradesh. Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium and Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow are the other two.

What has inspired the architecture of India’s new cricket stadium?

The infrastructural designs are based on the Hindu divine figure Lord Shiva. It will consist of trident-shaped floodlights, crescent-shaped roof covers, ghat steps-based seating, and wood apple-lookalike metallic sheets on the facade.

Watch the unveiling of the stadium here:

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