Mithali Raj stand inaugurated at Vizag Stadium

The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) on Sunday inaugurated the Mithali Raj Stand and the Raavi Kalpana Gate at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, honouring two icons of women's cricket who have inspired generations across India.

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The dedication ceremony was led by Andhra Pradesh IT, Electronics, RTG and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh, in the presence of ICC Chairman Jay Shah and ACA President Kesineni Sivanath, along with senior dignitaries from the BCCI, Cricket Australia, and international cricket boards.

The initiative was born out of a round table on gender representation in sports held in August 2025, during which Smriti Mandana Indian Women Team captain appealed to political leaders to name stadium stands after women cricketers. Within weeks, Andhra Pradesh became the first state to translate that call into reality, a move widely hailed as a progressive step toward inclusivity in Indian sport.