Visakhapatnam cricket stadium to have Mithali Raj and Raavi Kalpana stands

Ahead of the high-voltage India-Australia Women Cricket World Cup match, the Andhra Cricket Association will inaugurate the Mithali Raj Stand and the Raavi Kalpana stand on the ACA-VDCA Cricket stadium in Visakhapatnam on October 12. This is claimed to be the marking a first-of-its-kind tribute to ladies cricketers on the stadium.

The determination was taken after Indian ladies cricketer Smriti Mandhana had recommended to AP IT Minister Nara Lokesh to title two stands on the Vizag cricket stadium after Mithali Raj and Raavi Kalpana.

As per ACA officers, the choice was fast-tracked following the star batter Smriti Mandhana’s request through the “Breaking Boundaries” fireplace chat in August 2025 with Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh, the place she highlighted the absence of stadium stands named after main Indian ladies cricketers, together with at Vizag. She talked about that renaming of such stands would honour the contribution of girls cricketers, whereas additionally spotlighting their contributions to the sport. It would additionally encourage the subsequent era of girls to enter cricket as a career.

Acting on Mandhana’s enchantment, Minister Nara Lokesh instantly consulted the Andhra Cricket Association, main to a immediate decision to honour ladies’s cricket icons by naming stands after them on the Vizag venue.

Mr. Lokesh stated, “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.”

Smriti Mandhana’s intervention at “Breaking Boundaries”, the place main cricketers mentioned the stereotypes and boundaries ladies face in sport, underscored how seen honours in main venues can elevate consciousness and encourage participation throughout India.