Galaxy of legendary cricketers galore at foundation stone laying ceremony of Varanasi international cricket stadium

Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsagar and several other veteran cricketers arrived here earlier today to attend the foundation stone laying ceremony of Varanasi International Cricket Stadium. After Kanpur and Lucknow, this is the third stadium in Uttar Pradesh.

Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh): A host of cricket legends reached Varanasi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.

Among the cricket stars included cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar and others. Former India batter G Vishwanath, who represented Karnataka, was also present for the ceremony. Kapil Dev had led the Indian team to their maiden ODI World Cup triumph in 1983.

After arriving in Varanasi, Tendulkar, who has numerous world records to his name visited the famed Kashi Vishwanath Temple and offered his prayers. Also, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, President Roger Binny and Vice President Rajiv Shukla also graced the occasion.

• Varanasi bound. Great to be amongst Greats and colleagues for Mumbai and India. Just a few international runs and wickets there. Pic of a lifetime. Gr8 memories. @sachin_rt @BCCI 🇮🇳🙏 pic.twitter.com/AowpVZ2l1C

  — Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) September 23, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Varanasi bound. Great to be amongst Greats and colleagues for Mumbai and India. Just a few international runs and wickets there. Pic of a lifetime. Gr8 memories. @sachin_rt @BCCI 🇮🇳🙏 pic.twitter.com/AowpVZ2l1C

  — Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) September 23, 2023

  ">

  Varanasi bound. Great to be amongst Greats and colleagues for Mumbai and India. Just a few international runs and wickets there. Pic of a lifetime. Gr8 memories. @sachin_rt @BCCI 🇮🇳🙏 pic.twitter.com/AowpVZ2l1C

  — Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) September 23, 2023

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri posted a photograph with three former India and Mumbai players saying it is a 'picture of a lifetime'. "Varanasi bound. Great to be amongst Greats and colleagues for Mumbai and India. Just a few international runs and wickets there. Pic of a lifetime. Gr8 memories. @sachin_rt @BCCI," wrote Shastri, a famed commentator.

Several other former cricketers, including Shubhangi Kulkarni, and Neetu David, also attended the event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the international stadium, which is being built with the help of BCCI, this afternoon. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath termed the event a "golden chapter in Kashi".

• Varanasi is all set to get a modern stadium! This stadium will cater to the sporting needs of youngsters and encourage upcoming talent.
  
  Glad that eminent sports personalities also joined the programme to lay the foundation of the stadium. pic.twitter.com/H0ylRgE250

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2023 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="

  Varanasi is all set to get a modern stadium! This stadium will cater to the sporting needs of youngsters and encourage upcoming talent.
  
  Glad that eminent sports personalities also joined the programme to lay the foundation of the stadium. pic.twitter.com/H0ylRgE250

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2023

  ">

  Varanasi is all set to get a modern stadium! This stadium will cater to the sporting needs of youngsters and encourage upcoming talent.
  
  Glad that eminent sports personalities also joined the programme to lay the foundation of the stadium. pic.twitter.com/H0ylRgE250

  — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 23, 2023

Later PM Narendra Modi wrote on X, "Varanasi is all set to get a modern stadium! This stadium will cater to the sporting needs of youngsters and encourage upcoming talent. Glad that eminent sports personalities also joined the programme to lay the foundation of the stadium.".

The Uttar Pradesh government has spent Rs 121 crore to acquire land for the project while the BCCI is spending Rs 330 crore for its construction. The stadium has a capacity of 30,000 spectators. It has been dedicated to Lord Shiva and has crescent-shaped roof covers along with trident-shaped floodlights.

Located in the Rajatalab area near the Ring Road, the stadium is expected to be ready by December 2025. This is the state's third international cricket stadium after Kanpur (Green Park) and Lucknow (Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium).