Varanasi cricket stadium

Varanasi International Cricket Stadium is an under-construction cricket stadium in the holy city of Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh in India and is expected to be completed by December 2025. The venue will have a seating capacity of 30,000 which can be extended up to 40,000 spectators. Upon completion, it will be the fourth international cricket stadium in Uttar Pradesh after Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow and Saifai International Cricket Stadium in Etawah.

Overview and design
As the venue is located in the holy city of Varanasi, its architectural design will draw inspiration from Lord Shiva, featuring distinctive elements like trident-shaped floodlights, crescent-shaped roof covers, ghat-steps like seating arrangements, Bilva-patra (Wood apple leaves) shaped metallic sheets on the facade and the media center will be shaped like a Damaru.

The venue will have a capacity of 30,000 spectators which could be expandable up to 40,000. The venue will also have 9 practice wickets in the main ground, advanced drainage system, one outdoor ground, sufficient parking space, a VVIP or VIP zone on the second floor of the south pavilion

Development
The Government of Uttar Pradesh acquired a 30 acre land beside Ring Road Phase-2 in the Rajatalab area at a cost of inr 1210000000 for the stadium, while the construction cost is estimated to be inr 3300000000.

On 23 September 2023, Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the stadium in the presence of cricket veterans like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and Dilip Vengsarkar, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath, key officials of BCCI like Roger Binny, Rajeev Shukla, Jay Shah and many others. The stadium is expected to be completed by December 2025.

Public transit
The venue will be well-connected to the city's airport, major railway stations and bus station.