Former international venue · Uttar Pradesh

K. D. Singh Babu Stadium, Lucknow

Hazratganj, near Parivartan Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Stadium guide with history, famous matches and records.

Capacity 25,000
Opened 1957
1 Test
1 ODI

Photo: Faizhaider at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

K. D. Singh Babu Stadium: key facts

K. D. Singh Babu Stadium is a multi-purpose sports ground in Hazratganj, Lucknow. Built in 1957 as the Central Sports Stadium, it hosted one men's Test, one men's ODI and women's international matches before newer Ekana Cricket Stadium became Lucknow's main international venue.

Location: Hazratganj, near Parivartan Chowk, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Capacity: 25,000Published ground capacity; figures can vary by configuration.
Opened: 1957
First international: 27 October 1989Pakistan v Sri Lanka, MRF World Series (Nehru Cup)
Owned or run by: Government of Uttar Pradesh
Home teams: Uttar Pradesh
Ends: Pavilion End and Gomati End
Floodlights: No
Former names: Central Sports Stadium
Status: Former international venue

International matches hosted

1Tests
1ODIs
4Women's Tests
4Women's ODIs

Counts up to 6 June 2026; first international 27 October 1989, last 18 January 1994.

K. D. Singh Babu Stadium pitch report

The surface is listed as grass by ESPNcricinfo. The 1994 Test produced substantial first-innings scoring before India's spinners took control, though one match is not enough to define a general pitch pattern.

Listed surface: grass.

History of K. D. Singh Babu Stadium

The ground was established in 1957 as the Central Sports Stadium. It was later renamed for K. D. Singh, the Indian hockey player who featured in Olympic gold-medal campaigns. The venue is in the Hazratganj area, close to Parivartan Chowk, and has also been used for sports beyond cricket.

Its first international cricket came in women's cricket, with India playing West Indies in a Test in November 1976. The ground later staged a 1989 men's ODI between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Its sole men's Test followed in January 1994, when India played Sri Lanka.

The 1994 India–Sri Lanka Test remains the last men's international at the ground. Lucknow's international cricket later moved to the newer Ekana Cricket Stadium, which The Hindu described in 2018 as offering substantially newer facilities. K. D. Singh Babu Stadium remains a multi-sport venue.

Milestones

1957
The venue was established as the Central Sports Stadium in Lucknow.
1976
It hosted its first international cricket, a women's Test between India and West Indies.
1989
Pakistan played Sri Lanka in the ground's only men's ODI, in the MRF World Series.
1994
India and Sri Lanka met in the ground's only men's Test.
2018
The opening of Ekana Cricket Stadium gave Lucknow a newer international cricket venue.

Famous matches at K. D. Singh Babu Stadium

27 October 1989
Pakistan v Sri Lanka, MRF World Series
Pakistan won the only men's ODI played at the ground by six runs. Imran Khan was named player of the match.
18 January 1994
India v Sri Lanka, 1st Test
India won by an innings and 119 runs. Nayan Mongia made his Test debut, while Anil Kumble was the match's leading performer.
21 November 1976
India v West Indies, women's Test
This was the first women's Test staged at the ground and part of India's first women's Test series.

K. D. Singh Babu Stadium records

Researched ground records, checked against at least one published scorecard source.

Ground records at K. D. Singh Babu Stadium
Record	Figure	Match
Highest Test total	511 all out	India v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, 1994
Highest individual score	142	Sachin Tendulkar, India v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, 1994
Best Test match bowling figures	11 wickets	Anil Kumble, India v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, 1994

How to reach K. D. Singh Babu Stadium

By metro: K.D. Singh Babu Stadium metro station is beside the stadium.
By road: Use Parivartan Chowk in Hazratganj as the road reference; the stadium is in central Lucknow.
Address: Parivartan Chowk, Hazratganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India

K. D. Singh Babu Stadium: questions and answers

When was K. D. Singh Babu Stadium built?

It was established in 1957, originally as the Central Sports Stadium.

What is the capacity of K. D. Singh Babu Stadium?

ESPNcricinfo lists a capacity of 25,000. Seating can vary with event arrangements.

Which international matches were played at K. D. Singh Babu Stadium?

The ground hosted one men's ODI in 1989 and one men's Test in 1994. It also hosted four women's Tests and four women's ODIs.

Why does K. D. Singh Babu Stadium no longer host men's internationals?

Its last men's international was the India–Sri Lanka Test in January 1994. Lucknow's international fixtures later shifted to the newer Ekana Cricket Stadium, whose facilities were described as an upgrade in contemporary reporting.

More cricket stadiums in Uttar Pradesh

Every ground in India that has hosted an international, with its history, capacity and pitch. See all cricket stadiums in India.

Sources for this stadium guide