andhra State The Association of Cricket (ACA) is all set to celebrate women’s cricket in a big way by naming two sections of the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam after Indian cricket legends Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana.
The Mithali Raj Stand and the Ravi Kalpana Stand will be inaugurated on October 12, ahead of the India-Australia match in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.
The decision was taken to recognize the contribution of women to cricket and remember the achievements of Mithali and Kalpana.
Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana should be honored at Vizag Stadium
Mithali, India’s top run-scorer and former captain, has been an inspiration for generations, while Kalpana made her mark as a talented wicketkeeper.
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Star batsman Smriti Mandanna urged the Andhra Pradesh government to recognize these iconic players during an event in August 2025.
She urged Nara Lokesh, Minister of IT, Electronics and Sports of Andhra Pradesh, to honor Mithali and Ravi for their impact on Indian cricket, as it will inspire the next generation of women to enter cricket as a profession. After which, Nara Lokesh got to work immediately, consulting with ACA officials to bring the idea to life.
Andhra government aims to inspire the next generation of women cricketers
andhra State “ACA’s tribute to Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana reflects a deep commitment to honor the trailblazers who have redefined women’s cricket in India, while inspiring the next generation to dream big,” the Association of Cricket (ACA) said in a statement.
Sports Minister Lokesh, on the other hand, said, “Smriti Madhana’s thoughtful suggestion captured a broad public sentiment. Translating that idea into immediate action reflects our collective commitment to gender equality and to acknowledge the trailblazer of women’s cricket.”
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Meanwhile, the stand will feature displays of Mithali Raja and Ravi Kalpana’s career, achievements and memorable moments at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium with an aim to inspire young girls to take up cricket professionally. This initiative is part of Andhra Pradesh’s focus on providing better facilities, training and recognition to female athletes.
Career highlights of Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana
Speaking about Mithali Raj, she ended her career as one of the greatest female cricketers in the world. Raj holds the record for most runs in women’s ODIs, with 7805 runs in 232 matches at an average above 50, including seven centuries.
The former Indian captain also scored 2364 runs in 89 T20Is with 17 fifties and 699 runs in 12 Tests, with a highest score of 214, the highest for any Indian woman in the format. Raj retired from international cricket in 2022, ending an illustrious career that spanned 23 years.
Ravi Kalpana, on the other hand, played seven ODIs between 2015 and 2016 and inspired many players in his field, including Arundhati Reddy, S. Meghna and N. Mr. Charni is included.
