5 months ago
1
From the Indian Premier League (IPL) to International matches , 2025 turned retired to beryllium a imagination travel existent for cricket lovers successful Andhra, arsenic the portion witnessed continuous cricketing action. Between December 2025 and January 2026, 4 planetary matches person been scheduled astatine the scenic Dr YSR ACA VDCA International Cricket Stadium, with prima players specified arsenic Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma visiting the city.
It each began aboriginal 2025, erstwhile a Board of Control for Cricket successful India (BCCI) squad visited the stadium proposing IPL matches, erstwhile the venue lacked amenities. Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) president Kesineni Sivanath and caput Satish Babu successful a grounds span of little than a month, helped the stadium acquisition a implicit makeover.
“Right from air-conditioning, caller commentary boxes, modern dressing rooms for players, upgraded floodlights, broad broadcasting facilities, high-end lifts, brand-new toilets, the stadium was upgraded,” said ACA Chief Operating Officer (COO) Girish Dongre.
According to Mr Girish, “International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah and erstwhile BCCI President Roger Binny besides appreciated the facilities.”
After the palmy behaviour of the IPL, Vizag was chosen arsenic 1 of the 5 big cities for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup. The metropolis hosted 5 World Cup matches, including 2 involving India. The metropolis is besides hosting an ODI betwixt India and South Africa. It volition besides big 2 Women’s T20 Internationals betwixt India and Sri Lanka connected December 21 and 23, and a Men’s T20 International betwixt India and New Zealand connected January 26, 2026.
Significant developments besides took spot successful the home cricket and the Andhra Premier League (APL). For the archetypal time, the Andhra Ranji squad appointed an planetary coach, Gary Stead, erstwhile manager of New Zealand.
“We changed the full branding for the Andhra Premier league. The fig of teams, matches and prize wealth was accrued to connection players further opportunities to showcase their abilities,” helium said. The adjacent variation of the APL volition beryllium expanded into a multi-city tournament, reaching Kadapa and Mangalagiri, helium added.
Mr Girish said: “The ACA is readying to alteration the Vizianagaram Stadium into a high-performance centre equipped with a swimming pool, gym and each indispensable facilities for players. In addition, we volition acceptable up a high-class gym astatine the Visakhapatnam stadium and amended facilities, including floodlights, astatine the Mangalagiri stadium.”
