Lucknow | As part of the three-day Uttar Pradesh Day 2026 celebrations being held from January 24 to 26 under the theme “Viksit Bharat – Viksit Uttar Pradesh,” a friendly T20 cricket match was organised on January 25, 2026, at the Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The match was played between the Chief Secretary XI (CS XI) of the Uttar Pradesh government and the SBI XI representing the Indian State Bank, Lucknow Circle.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash Goyal graced the occasion and conducted the toss along with Deepak Kumar De, Chief General Manager, State Bank of India. Goyal later presented the winner’s trophy and individual awards. Appreciating the Indian State Bank for associating with the Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations, he said such sporting initiatives promote unity, teamwork and sportsmanship, and align well with the vision of Viksit Bharat – Viksit Uttar Pradesh. He also acknowledged SBI’s significant contribution to the overall development of the state.
After winning the toss, CS XI opted to bat first and posted a competitive total of 152 runs in the allotted 20 overs. In reply, SBI XI put up a spirited performance but fell just short, scoring 148 runs in 20 overs. CS XI clinched the match by a narrow margin of 4 runs, making it a closely contested and exciting encounter.
Match Awards:
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Man of the Match: Vasant
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Best Batsman: Vikas Tiwari
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Best Bowler: Vishal Srivastava
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Best Fielder: Punj Hemkar
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Best Sportsmanship: Dhirendra Sachan
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Chief Secretary Parthasarathi Sen Sharma said that both teams displayed excellent sportsmanship and enthusiasm throughout the match. He thanked the State Bank of India for its participation and expressed hope for continued collaboration in similar events in the future.
Deepak Kumar De, Chief General Manager, SBI Lucknow Circle, thanked the Uttar Pradesh government for providing the opportunity to be part of the Uttar Pradesh Day celebrations. He noted that such events encourage physical fitness, positive engagement and stronger institutional relationships.
Several senior officials from the Uttar Pradesh government and the State Bank of India were present throughout the match, including Navneet Sehgal (Retired Additional Chief Secretary), Anurag Yadav (Principal Secretary), Pankaj Yadav (Secretary), Shri Dhirendra Singh Sachan (Special Secretary), Anil Kumar, General Manager (Network-I), SBI, Rajiv Kumar, General Manager (Network-II), SBI, and Shri Kaushlendra Kumar, General Manager (Network-III), SBI. Their presence added to the energy and enthusiasm on and off the field, making the event a memorable highlight of Uttar Pradesh Day 2026 celebrations.
