ACA-VDCA Stadium to Honour Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana with Named Stands After Smriti Mandhana’s Appeal

Smriti Mandhana’s kind request to honour India’s women cricketers has finally come true. The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has decided to name two stands at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam after Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana. This step celebrates their great work for Indian cricket and will inspire many in the future.

The idea began after Smriti Mandhana spoke with Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh during the ‘Breaking Boundaries’ event in August. At that event, Mandhana mentioned that many stadiums in India have stands and gates named after famous male cricketers, but women players, who have also played with the same passion and success, rarely get such honour.

Her words quickly made an impact. Minister Nara Lokesh agreed with her and immediately spoke to the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) to make it happen. Soon after, the ACA decided to name two stands after Mithali Raj, India’s top run-scorer and former captain and Ravi Kalpana, the wicketkeeper-batter from Andhra who has played for India.

“Smriti Mandhana’s thoughtful suggestion captured a wider public sentiment. Translating that idea into immediate action reflects our collective commitment to gender parity and to acknowledging the trailblazers of women’s cricket.” Minister Nara Lokesh said.

At the ‘Breaking Boundaries’ event, where top cricketers talked about the challenges and stereotypes women face in sports, Smriti Mandhana highlighted how recognising women players in big stadiums can raise awareness and inspire more girls to take up cricket. The ACA-VDCA Stadium, built in 2003 near Madhurawada on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam, got Test status in 2015 and hosted its first Test match between India and England in November 2016.

The two stands will be opened on October 12, the same day India plays Australia in the Women’s World Cup at Visakhapatnam. It’s a perfect time for the event and will add excitement to the big match. The India vs Australia game is already one of the most awaited ones, as both teams are among the best and are still unbeaten. They also played a close three-match ODI series recently.

The Visakhapatnam stadium will host five matches in this World Cup, including India’s games against South Africa on October 9 and Australia on October 12.