Mithali Raj, Ravi Kalpana to be immortalized with stands at Vizag ahead of India vs Australia World Cup clash

The Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association (ACA) is 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 Ravi Kalpana Stand will be inaugurated on October 12, just before the India-Australia match in the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

The decision was taken to recognize women’s contributions to cricket and remember the achievements of Mithali and Kalpana.

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Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana to be honoured 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-batter.

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The idea was fast-tracked after star batter Smriti Mandhana urged the Andhra Pradesh government to recognize these iconic players during an event in August 2025.

She urged Andhra Pradesh’s IT, Electronics, and Sports Minister, Nara Lokesh, 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 acted promptly, consulting with ACA officials to bring the idea to life.

Andhra Government aims to inspire the next generation of Women cricketers

The Andhra Pradesh Cricket Association (ACA) said in a statement, “The ACA's tribute to Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana reflects a deep commitment to honoring the trailblazers who have redefined women's cricket in India while inspiring the next generation to dream bigger.”

On the other hand, the Sports Minister 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.”

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Meanwhile, the stands will feature displays of Mithali Raja and Ravi Kalpana’s careers, achievements, and memorable moments at the ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium with the aim of inspiring young girls to take up cricket professionally. This initiative is part of Andhra Pradesh’s focus on giving women athletes better facilities, training, and recognition.

Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana's career highlights

Speaking about Mithali Raj, she finished her career as one of the greatest women cricketers in the world. Raj holds the record for the most runs in women’s ODIs, scoring 7805 runs in 232 matches at an average above 50, including seven centuries.

The former Indian captain also amassed 2364 runs in 89 T20Is with 17 fifties and scored 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 a glittering career that spanned 23 years.

On the other hand, Ravi Kalpana played seven ODIs between 2015 and 2016 and inspired many players from her region, including Arundhati Reddy, S. Meghana, and N. Shree Charani.