Archive · 15 Aug 2026
UPT20 League Chairman Eyes Varanasi, Gorakhpur as Future Venues
The UPT20 League is a cricket tournament in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.
The chairman of the league, Dr Sanjay Kapoor, spoke at the big opening ceremony of the fourth season.
He said the league might one day be played in cities like Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
Right now, games are hosted in two cities called Lucknow and Kanpur.
The league has a special program called 'Speed Hunt' that finds talented kids from villages.
These kids do not have to pay any money to try out.
New players found through Speed Hunt are now on all six teams in the tournament.
Some of them even got big bids at the player auction.
The chief minister of the state and a cricket leader came to see the ceremony.
The chairman said the tournament is like a festival for the people of Uttar Pradesh.
UPT20 League Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor said future seasons could be hosted in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and other cities in Uttar Pradesh.
The fourth season's opening ceremony was held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was the Chief Guest, with BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla also in attendance.
Players discovered through the grassroots 'Speed Hunt' scouting initiative are now part of all six teams in the fourth edition.
The current fourth season is being hosted across Lucknow and Kanpur, with Speed Hunt players attracting bids worth lakhs at auction.
Kapoor said selections through Speed Hunt were conducted transparently and without charging any fee to participants.
- Who
- UPT20 League Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla
- What
- Dr Sanjay Kapoor announced possible expansion of the UPT20 League to Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and other cities, while highlighting the Speed Hunt grassroots talent initiative
- When
- At the opening ceremony of the fourth season (specific date not provided in the article)
- Where
- Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Why
- To expand the league's reach across Uttar Pradesh and provide a bigger platform for emerging cricketing talent
- League
- UPT20 League
- Season
- Fourth season
- Current host cities
- Lucknow and Kanpur
- Possible future venues
- Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and other cities in Uttar Pradesh
- Chief Guest
- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
- Grassroots initiative
- Speed Hunt (free, transparent rural talent scouting)
- Number of teams in fourth edition
- Six
- Notable attendee
- BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla