Having pored over countless scorecards and match reels, I can tell you that the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is far more than just another modern stadium added to the Indian Premier League (IPL) roster. Since its first match in April 2023, this talked-about venue has carved out a unique character that fundamentally influences the game.
As the home of the Lucknow Super Giants, the ground offers a distinctive playing environment. Its infrastructure, specific pitch conditions, and boundary dimensions create a puzzle that shapes seasons and crucial matches. For fans, fantasy players, and analysts alike, understanding the records and stats here isn’t just trivia—it’s key to making informed decisions.
My analysis always starts with the complete data. Every season adds new entries to its growing record books, from individual batting achievements and exceptional bowling performances to team totals and fielding milestones. A comprehensive examination of these statistical aspects reveals clear patterns in match outcomes and pitch behavior. Whether you’re researching historical performances, planning fantasy cricket strategies, or simply exploring IPL statistics, this authoritative information, backed by compiled match data, provides a detailed breakdown you can trust.
Ekana Stadium IPL Records: The Complete Breakdown
Moving beyond the basics, the real insights come from comparisons. By examining rankings and sections of data drawn from actual match performances at this venue, especially through the 2025 season, we see its true competitive blueprint.
IPL Records Overview: The Complete Ekana Stadium Summary
| Record Category | Details | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Total IPL Matches | 22 | (2023 – 2025) |
| First IPL Match | LSG vs Delhi Capitals | 1st April 2023 |
| Highest Team Total | 235/6 by Kolkata Knight Riders | 5th May 2024 |
| Lowest Team Total | 108 by Lucknow Super Giants | 1st May 2023 |
| Top Run-Scorer | KL Rahul (432 runs for LSG, as of IPL 2024)* | Career Aggregate |
| Top Wicket-Taker | Ravi Bishnoi (16 wickets for LSG, as of IPL 2024)* | Career Aggregate |
| Best Bowling Figures | 5/14 by Mark Wood (LSG vs DC) | 1st April 2023 |
| Most Sixes | Marcus Stoinis (22 sixes for LSG, as of IPL 2024)* | Career Aggregate |
| Most Fours | KL Rahul (40 fours for LSG, as of IPL 2024)* | Career Aggregate |
| Capacity | 50,000 | — |
| Pitch Type | Black Soil (Slow) | — |
| Highest Individual Score | 118* by Rishabh Pant (LSG vs RCB) | 27th May 2025 |
Batting Records at Ekana Stadium: A Complete Comparison
Top 5 Run-Scorers in IPL at Ekana Stadium
| Rank | Player | Team(s) | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | KL Rahul | DC/IND/LSG | 14 | 566 | 82 | 51.45 | 133.17 |
| 2 | Ishan Kishan | IND/JHK/MI/SRH | 10 | 466 | 102* | 66.57 | 137.86 |
| 3 | Nicholas Pooran | LSG/WI | 22 | 413 | 61 | 24.29 | 140.95 |
| 4 | Ayush Badoni | LSG | 21 | 376 | 59* | 31.33 | 141.88 |
| 5 | Marcus Stoinis | LSG/PBKS | 15 | 336 | 89* | 30.54 | 136.03 |
Why KL Rahul Dominates Batting: Watching him, you realize he understands this pitch better than perhaps anyone. His success stems from playing straight and rotating strike consistently, a method proven by the fact that the top five scorers play for LSG, proving home advantage matters.
Most Fours Comparison
| Rank | Player | Fours | Team(s) |
| 1 | KL Rahul | 55 | LSG / DC |
| 2 | Nicholas Pooran | 31 | LSG |
| 3 | Ayush Badoni | 27 | LSG |
| 4 | Mitchell Marsh | 24 | LSG |
| 5 | Marcus Stoinis | 24 | LSG |
Key Insight from Ekana Stadium:The stats don’t lie: KL Rahul’s ratio of 55 fours versus just 13 sixes at Ekana perfectly shows how placement beats pure power. Here, the 65-72 meter boundaries consistently reward clever gap-finding over reckless boundary-hitting.
Most Sixes Comparison
| Rank | Player | Sixes | Team(s) |
| 1 | Nicholas Pooran | 23 | LSG |
| 2 | Marcus Stoinis | 20 | LSG |
| 3 | Ayush Badoni | 14 | LSG |
| 4 | KL Rahul | 13 | LSG / DC |
| 5 | Kyle Mayers | 11 | LSG |
Comparison note:While Pooran leads six-hitting here with 23 maximums, a quick compare to smaller IPL venues is revealing. At those grounds, top hitters clear 35-40 sixes a season. The big boundaries at Ekana Stadium limit power-hitting significantly; the T20 data from its IPL records simply confirms that precise timing matters more than brute strength.
Bowling Records Comparison at Ekana Stadium
Top 5 Wicket-Takers in IPL at Ekana Stadium
| Rank | Player | Principal Team(s) | Wickets | Best Bowling |
| 1 | Ravi Bishnoi | Lucknow Super Giants | 19 | 3/24 |
| 2 | Yash Thakur | LSG / Punjab Kings | 15 | 5/30 |
| 3 | Krunal Pandya | LSG / RCB | 12 | 3/11 |
| 4 | Arshdeep Singh | Punjab Kings | 11 | 3/30 |
| 5 | Naveen-ul-Haq | Lucknow Super Giants | 10 | 3/30 |
- Why Ravi Bishnoi Dominates Bowling : Watching him bowl, it’s clear he’s the leg-spinner who perfectly exploits this surface. His mastery of the pitch’s natural turn and low bounce translates to an excellent economy of just 7.42 in T20 cricket.
- Home Advantage at Ekana Stadium: It’s no coincidence that the top four wicket-takers all play for LSG. This stat alone is proving a vital point: local knowledge genuinely helps bowlers decode and understand the subtle, tricky pitch behavior here better than any visiting attack.
Best Bowling Figures Comparison
| Rank | Bowler | Figures | Team | Opposition | Season |
| 1 | Mark Wood | 5/14 | LSG | Delhi Capitals | 2023 |
| 2 | Yash Thakur | 5/30 | LSG | Gujarat Titans | 2024 |
| 3 | Mitchell Starc | 5/35 | MI | Lucknow Super Giants | 2025 |
| 4 | Hardik Pandya | 5/36 | MI | Lucknow Super Giants | 2025 |
| 5 | Mohammed Siraj | 4/17 | RCB | Lucknow Super Giants | 2025 |
Statistical Analysis:While the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium IPL records clearly favor spin bowling, pace isn’t useless. It’s fascinating that both five-wicket hauls came against the Mumbai Indians, showing how quality bowling exploits Ekana’s conditions. Mark Wood’s 5/14 remains unmatched, a masterclass proving fast bowlers with clever variations—like cutters and slower balls—can also succeed here.
Highest IPL Team Totals at Ekana Stadium
Highest IPL Totals in Ekana Stadium
| Rank | Score | Team | Opponent | Season | Result |
| 1 | 235/6 | Kolkata Knight Riders | LSG | 2024 | KKR won by 98 runs |
| 2 | 231/6 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | SRH | 2025 | RCB won by 26 runs |
| 3 | 230/4 | Lucknow Super Giants | RCB | 2025 | LSG won by 3 runs |
| 4 | 227/3 | Lucknow Super Giants | RCB | 2025 | RCB won (DLS Method) |
| 5 | 206/4 | Lucknow Super Giants | SRH | 2025 | LSG won by 1 run |
Key Venue Comparison:Look at the highest score here: KKR’s 235/6. Now, compare that to Chinnaswamy or Wankhede, where 250+ scores are common. The context is key—in 22 matches, only two teams crossed 230. The average first innings total of 170-185 runs is consistently 20-30 runs below what’s typical at other IPL venues, framing Ekana as a true bowler’s ally.
Lowest IPL Total in Ekana Stadium
| Rank | Score | Team | Opponent | Season | Result |
| 1 | 108 | Lucknow Super Giants | RCB | 2023 | RCB won by 18 runs |
| 2 | 121/8 | Sunrisers Hyderabad | LSG | 2023 | LSG won by 5 wickets |
| 3 | 126/9 | Royal Challengers Bangalore | LSG | 2023 | RCB won by 18 runs |
| 4 | 128/7 | Lucknow Super Giants | GT | 2023 | GT won by 7 runs |
| 5 | 135/6 | Gujarat Titans | LSG | 2023 | GT won by 7 runs |
Defining Trends in Ekana Stadium IPL Performance: LSG appears in all five of the lowest totals, despite their home advantage. This perfectly illustrates the pitch’s challenging nature—it affects everyone equally, and home teams aren’t immune to dramatic collapses. Delving into the Ekana Stadium IPL records scorecard collection shows a massive 127-run difference between the highest (235/6) and lowest (108) totals, highlighting its unpredictable character.
Pitch Analysis: Why Ekana Stadium Favors Bowlers
Analyzing the Pitch Characteristics of Ekana Stadium
| Factor | Description | Facts |
| Soil Variety | The stadium features both Black Soil and Red Soil pitches. Black soil holds moisture and is abrasive, while red soil is harder and faster. | Black soil pitches here have produced the lowest IPL total of 108 runs due to extreme turn and low bounce. |
| Boundary Dimensions | It is one of the largest outfields in India, particularly featuring long straight and square boundaries. | Batters often get caught at the “cow corner” or long-on because they fail to clear the massive 70m+ ropes. |
| Grip & Turn | The slow nature of the surface (especially the black soil) allows the ball to grip and “stick” in the pitch rather than coming onto the bat. | Spinners like Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya often maintain economy rates below 6.50 at this venue. |
| Variable Bounce | As the match progresses, certain spots on the pitch tend to crumble, leading to uneven bounce that makes horizontal-bat shots (pulls/cuts) risky. | Many wickets at Ekana fall to “skidders” that stay lower than the batter expects, leading to LBW or Bowled dismissals. |
| Lack of Dew | Unlike Mumbai or Kolkata, Lucknow often sees minimal dew during the IPL months (April–May) due to the dry North Indian heat. | Bowlers can maintain a firm grip on the ball even in the second innings, preventing the “wet ball” disadvantage typical of night matches. |
The Decisive Role of Spinners at Ekana Stadium
Data Analysis: Ekana Stadium IPL Match Statistics:
- At Ekana, spinners account for a dominant 60% of all wickets.
- Their average spin economy is a stellar 7.2, far better than the 8.5 typical of other venues.
- This control is most crucial in the middle overs (7-15), where they take 70% of the wickets.
- The conditions make leg-spinners particularly effective here.
- This is perfectly proven by Bishnoi’s haul of 19 wickets at the ground.
- Simply put, the pitch offers them more help and batsmen fewer scoring options.
Fast Bowling Performance at Ekana Stadium: A Comparative Analysis
- On this slow surface, pure pace often gets neutralized and loses its threat.
- Therefore, having variations is absolutely essential for success.
- Wood’s legendary 5/14 spell is the blueprint; he used cutters and slower balls masterfully.
- Interestingly, death bowling becomes easier here for pacers who adapt.
- The pitch grip aids these change-ups, making yorkers and slower ones harder to hit.
- The lesson is clear: brain over brawn wins for fast men at Ekana.
Success Rates: Batting vs Bowling at Ekana Stadium
| Category | Success Metric | Performance Context |
| Batting Success | Average 1st Innings Score | Increased from approximately 143 (2023) to a recent ground average of 175.36. |
| Bowling Success | Average Runs per Wicket | Currently stands at 28.14 across all matches. |
| Batting Success | Boundary Frequency | A boundary is hit every 5.2 balls in high-scoring 2025 matches compared to every 8.4 in 2023. |
| Bowling Success | Average Economy Rate | The overall ground average is 8.79. Spinners maintain a superior economy of 7.2 compared to 8.5 for pacers. |
| Chasing Success | Win % Batting Second | 54.55% (12 out of 22 matches won). |
| Powerplay Success | Avg. Powerplay Score | Rose from 38 (2023) to 52 (2025) as pitches became faster. |
| Centuries Scored | Individual Hundreds | Historically 0 for its first two seasons, now includes Rishabh Pant’s 118* in 2025. |
| Spin Dominance | Wicket Share | Spinners account for 60% of all wickets taken at this venue. |
| Toss Advantage | Win % After Winning Toss | 63.64% (14 out of 22 matches) — captains winning the toss have a significant advantage. |
| Bowling Milestones | 3+ Wicket Hauls | There have been 18 instances of bowlers taking three or more wickets in a single match. |
Impact of the Toss at Ekana Stadium
| Toss Decision | Win Percentage |
|---|---|
| Bat first | 60% |
| Bowl first | 40% |
Captains prefer batting first at Ekana. Setting targets works better than chasing on this pitch.
Strategy Analysis: Comparing Approaches at Ekana Stadium
| Strategy Type | Success Rate at Ekana | Success Rate at Other Venues | Reason for Variance |
| Aggressive Powerplay | 48% | 68% | The ball often swings or seams early at Ekana; pure aggression is riskier than at flatter “road” pitches. |
| Middle-Overs Accumulation | 72% | 52% | Ekana’s Strongest Strategy. The large boundaries favor strike rotation and “running hard” over risky boundaries. |
| Death-Overs Power-Hitting | 42% | 62% | Despite flatter pitches, the long square boundaries often lead to catches at deep mid-wicket/long-on. |
| Spin-Heavy Bowling Attack | 68% | 48% | Spinners remain dominant here, maintaining an average economy of 7.2, significantly lower than the league average. |
Ekana rewards patience and tactical cricket over aggressive, high-risk approaches.
LSG’s Home Record Against IPL Opponents at Ekana Stadium
| Opposition | Matches | LSG Wins | Opposition Wins | LSG Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mumbai Indians | 3 | 2 | 1 | 66.7% |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | 3 | 1 | 2 | 33.3% |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Delhi Capitals | 2 | 2 | 0 | 100.0% |
| Other Teams | 12 | 7 | 5 | 58.3% |
| Total / Average | 22 | 13 | 9 | 59.1% |
Evaluating Home Advantage at Ekana Stadium:Looking at LSG’s home record of 13 wins and 9 losses at the Lucknow Cricket Stadium, it’s competitive but far from dominant. This is because the challenging pitch keeps matches competitive regardless of home advantage. If you pull up the last match scorecard or any other, it typically shows close contests rather than one-sided victories, proving the surface is the great equalizer.
Conclusion
After studying every match, it’s clear the Ekana Stadium is a curator’s dream and a power-hitter’s puzzle. Its IPL Records through 22 matches tell a consistent story: this venue consistently favors bowlers over batsmen. You see it in the leading wicket-taker, Ravi Bishnoi, whose 19 wickets lead the tally, and in the top scorer, KL Rahul, whose 540 runs achieves more through precise placement and 55 fours than sheer power (just 13 sixes).
The team totals range from a paltry 108 to a highest of 235/6, showing how dramatically the pitch conditions affect outcomes. In those 22 matches, only three teams crossed 200, while five failed to reach 150. This isn’t random; it’s by design. The slow pitch, low bounce, and 65-72 meter boundaries create challenges rarely seen at other IPL venues.
Here, spinners decide matches, taking the majority of wickets with superior economy rates compared to pacers. Looking beyond 2025, we should expect continued bowling dominance, especially as teams batting first hold a strong 60% win rate. This demands a shift in approach. Tactical cricket beats aggressive slugfests. Smart batsmen who rotate strike will outscore power-hitters who swing blindly.
In a modern T20 era where 200+ scores are routine elsewhere, Ekana offers a genuine balance between bat and ball, which is increasingly rare. This makes its data uniquely valuable for truly understanding how specific pitch conditions shape cricket outcomes. It’s a compelling argument for preserving sporting wickets in a format often skewed towards the batsman.
