Visakhapatnam Stadium to Unveil Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana Stands at Women’s World Cup

According to the local state government in Vizag, legendary Indian cricketer Mithali Raj will soon get a stand named in her honour at the Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam. When the stands are opened on October 12, the Andhra Pradesh government will also pay tribute to 29-year-old Ravi Kalpana, who played seven One-Day matches for India Women.

This historic action reflects a rising appreciation of women cricketers' achievements in the game and is the first time that stadium stands at the Vizag site have been named after them. Notably, Smriti Mandhana, a famous cricket player, advocated for this honour at the August 2025 "Breaking Boundaries" event. According to the ace opener, this kind of action will encourage the nation's youth, particularly the women, to take up sports and aspire to play for their country in the future. Andhra's Minister for Human Resources Development, Nara Lokesh, responded to the request right away.

New Honour to Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana:

Two stands were named after Mithali and Kalpana as a result of Minister Nara Lokesh's prompt engagement with the ACA in response to Mandhana's petition. Mandhana's proposal struck a deep chord with public opinion and represented a larger commitment to female equality in sports, Lokesh said. He 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."

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐨𝐟-𝐚-𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐕𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐮𝐦! 🙌

Stands named after Mithali Raj & Ravi Kalpana to be unveiled ahead of India-Australia World Cup clash.🏏 #CricketTwitterpic.twitter.com/G1vXU9yNwe

— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) October 6, 2025

Regarding Mithali Raj's remarkable career with the Women in Blue, the right-handed batsman participated in an incredible 232 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and amassed 7805 runs at an average of 50.68, including seven hundreds and sixty-four half-centuries.

She concluded her 23-year distinguished career in international cricket in 2022, having made her debut in 1999. Mithali is the driving force behind changing cricket's inclusivity and a fervent supporter of women's empowerment in sports and other domains. The experienced cricketer's achievements in women's sports, particularly in a nation like India, will undoubtedly be remembered forever, thanks to the Vizag stadium authorities' honouring of her.

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