UPT20 League eyes Varanasi, Gorakhpur expansion: Chairman Sanjay Kapoor
Synopsis
The UPT20 League's fourth season opened in Lucknow with a bold expansion signal: Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor put Varanasi and Gorakhpur on the map as future venues, while Speed Hunt — a free, rural talent-scouting drive — placed players from the hinterland into all six franchise squads, with several fetching lakh-rupee bids at auction.
Key Takeaways
UPT20 League Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor announced potential expansion to Varanasi and Gorakhpur in future seasons.
The fourth season was launched at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium , Lucknow , on 15 August .
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla attended the opening ceremony.
The Speed Hunt grassroots scouting programme identified rural talent at zero cost ; players are now part of all six competing teams.
Several Speed Hunt players attracted bids worth lakhs at the franchise auction.
The current season is hosted across Lucknow and Kanpur .
UPT20 League Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor has signalled that the tournament could extend to Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and other cities across Uttar Pradesh in the coming years, as the league enters its fourth season with an eye on deepening its cricketing footprint across the state. The announcement came at the grand opening ceremony held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 15 August.
A Festival for Uttar Pradesh
The opening ceremony was attended by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath as Chief Guest, alongside BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and thousands of spectators. Kapoor described the fourth season as a milestone that transcends sport.
'The fourth season of the UPT20 League is a historic moment not only for the state's cricket but for every resident of Uttar Pradesh. It is not just a cricket tournament or league; it is a festival for the entire UP,' Kapoor said. He also expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Adityanath and Shukla for their continued support in growing the league.
Speed Hunt: Grassroots Scouting at Scale
A centrepiece of Kapoor's address was the league's 'Speed Hunt' initiative — a grassroots scouting programme designed to identify young cricketing talent from rural areas, free of cost and conducted with what he described as complete transparency.
'This time, through the Speed Hunt initiative, many talented children from rural areas who had limited resources got the opportunity to step forward. We conducted direct selections through this initiative with complete transparency and without charging a single rupee as a fee,' Kapoor said.
Players unearthed through the programme are now part of all six teams competing in the fourth edition, and several attracted bids worth lakhs at the auction — a result Kapoor cited as proof of Uttar Pradesh's untapped cricketing depth.
Current Season and Expansion Plans
The fourth season is currently being hosted across Lucknow and Kanpur, the state's two established cricketing hubs. Kapoor indicated that the league's expansion to additional venues is a matter of when, not if.
'Since there is no dearth of talent in Uttar Pradesh and nurturing that talent remains our top priority, you might see UPT20 League matches being hosted in Varanasi, Gorakhpur, and other cities in the near future,' he said.
What This Means for UP Cricket
The UPT20 League's stated ambition to reach Varanasi and Gorakhpur would bring professional T20 cricket to cities that have historically been outside the mainstream domestic circuit. For a state with a population exceeding 24 crore, the league's grassroots model — combining free talent identification with franchise-level competition — represents a structural attempt to convert raw potential into professional pathways. Whether the infrastructure and franchise appetite exist to support multi-city expansion will be the key test ahead.
Point of View
Not performative. What the league has yet to demonstrate is a transparent, independently verified outcome report on how many Speed Hunt alumni convert into sustained professional careers, not just one-season auction headlines.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which new cities could host UPT20 League matches in the future?
UPT20 League Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor has said that Varanasi and Gorakhpur, along with other cities in Uttar Pradesh, could host matches in future seasons. The league currently operates across Lucknow and Kanpur.
What is the UPT20 League's Speed Hunt initiative?
Speed Hunt is a grassroots talent-scouting programme that identifies young cricketers from rural areas of Uttar Pradesh at no cost to participants. Players selected through the initiative are part of all six teams in the fourth season, with several attracting bids worth lakhs at the franchise auction.
Who attended the UPT20 League fourth season opening ceremony?
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended as Chief Guest, alongside BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla and thousands of spectators. The ceremony was held at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 15 August.
How many teams are competing in the fourth edition of the UPT20 League?
Six teams are competing in the fourth edition of the UPT20 League. All six squads include players identified through the Speed Hunt grassroots scouting programme.
Why is the UPT20 League looking to expand beyond Lucknow and Kanpur?
Chairman Dr Sanjay Kapoor has cited the abundance of untapped cricketing talent across Uttar Pradesh as the primary reason for expansion. The league's stated priority is to provide a professional platform to emerging players from across the state, not just its established cricketing centres.
