A bold pitch at the UP T20 League final
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a high-profile appeal to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), urging the body to consider expanding IPL and domestic cricket representation in the state — citing both its vast population and rapidly growing sports infrastructure.
The call came during the closing ceremony of the Uttar Pradesh T20 League at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, where the Chief Minister addressed a packed stadium of fans, officials, and players.
“Dekhiye, mera maana hai ki jitni bhi humari khiladi hai inko UP ke andar manch milna chahiye. Aur achche achche international khiladi Uttar Pradesh har ek usme me de raha hai [All our athletes should get a platform here in UP. The state is producing good international athletes in many events],” CM Yogi Adityanath said.
He followed that by pointing to the state’s population and cricketing size, making a smiling yet firm demand:
“Main toh baar baar BCCI se bhi kahunga ki Uttar Pradesh ke ander itne bade pradesh hai – 25 crore ki abaadi me ek team hai. Kam se kam chaar team Uttar Pradesh se honi chahiye. Uttar Pradesh ko yeh mauka jaroor dena chahiye [I will appeal to the BCCI as the state of UP is so big with a population of 25 crore and has only one IPL team – we should have at least four teams].”
Why CM Yogi says UP deserves more teams
Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state with over 25 crore people, currently has just one IPL franchise — the Lucknow Super Giants, which joined the league in 2022. CM Yogi pointed to other states like Mumbai and Gujarat that enjoy multiple representations in domestic cricket, arguing that UP’s case is even stronger.
His remarks align with longstanding demands by others in the cricketing community, including former Ranji player and ex-minister Mohsin Raza, who have pushed for greater representation of UP in national competitions.
The Chief Minister’s comments came with BCCI acting president Rajeev Shukla in attendance, giving the pitch a timely edge. The event also saw the CM interacting with players, posing for photos with the trophy, and even conducting the toss with a robot named Chulbul — a ceremonial moment that added flair to the cricketing evening.
Stadiums, infrastructure, and UP’s sporting ambitions
CM Yogi’s appeal wasn’t just about teams — it was part of a broader message about Uttar Pradesh’s commitment to becoming a sporting powerhouse.
He spotlighted multiple infrastructure projects already underway, including:
- An international stadium in Varanasi, with 70% of construction completed and expected to be ready by year-end
- New stadiums being built in Ayodhya and Gorakhpur
- A sports university in Meerut
- Mini-stadiums in every development block and full-fledged stadiums in each district
- A government-backed initiative to appoint veteran players as coaches to guide emerging talent
He also praised the enthusiasm of young players and emphasized the UP government’s role in promoting grassroots sports through both policy and investment.
Tweet signals CM Yogi’s continued commitment to sports
Following his remarks at the UP T20 League final, CM Yogi further emphasized the government’s support for athletes in a message posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter):
“@UPGovt is continuously encouraging emerging players. I have full confidence that with robust infrastructure, the players of the state will perform better in sports and the field of sports. Heartfelt congratulations to all the players and best wishes for a bright future!”
'भारत रत्न' श्री अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी इकाना क्रिकेट स्टेडियम, लखनऊ में आज आयोजित UP-T20 लीग, सीजन-3 के समापन कार्यक्रम में सम्मिलित होकर खिलाड़ियों का उत्साहवर्धन किया।
आदरणीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी की प्रेरणा से वाराणसी, अयोध्या और गोरखपुर में स्टेडियम का निर्माण हो… pic.twitter.com/9MydvfoE3o
— Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) September 6, 2025
The tweet reinforced his on-ground message with a broader call for sports excellence and state-level investment in cricketing talent.
Will the BCCI respond?
CM Yogi’s high-profile, on-record remarks — made in front of BCCI leadership and amplified online — have reignited conversations about IPL expansion and domestic cricket team allocation.
With the state producing a steady stream of international-level players and investing heavily in infrastructure, the question is no longer whether UP wants more teams, but whether the BCCI will finally take action.
If the board listens, IPL and domestic cricket could soon see Uttar Pradesh fielding not just one, but four teams — a transformation that could reshape the cricketing map of India.
