As India and Australia face-off in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana made history.
The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) had announced to name stands after former India captain Mithali and wicketkeeper-batter Ravi, which were officially unveiled on October 12, ahead of the starty of the match. ICC chairman Jay Shah is in attendance as Mithali and Ravi were felicitated with a stand and a gate respectively.
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This decision follows a suggestion by India opener Smriti Mandhana to Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh during a chat back in August, where she proposed that pioneers of women’s cricket should be recognised
in a significant way.
In a statement, the ACA had said, “The ACA’s tribute to Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana reflects a deep commitment to honouring the trailblazers who have redefined women’s cricket in India while inspiring the next generation to dream bigger.”
“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,” Minister Lokesh had been quoted as saying.
Mithali Raj, one of the greatest figures in women’s cricket, is India’s highest run-scorer in ODIs with 7,805 runs in 232 matches at an average of 50.68, including seven centuries. She also scored 2,364 runs in T20Is with 17 fifties and 699 runs in Tests with a highest score of 214 — still the best by an Indian in the format. Raj retired in 2022 after a remarkable 23-year international career that significantly shaped women’s cricket in India.
Ravi Kalpana, who played seven ODIs between 2015 and 2016, is noted for being the first woman from Andhra Pradesh to represent India, debuting against New Zealand in Bengaluru. Her journey has inspired regional cricketers such as Arundhati Reddy, S. Meghana, and N. Shree Charani.
“When ACA president and secretary called me to convey the decision, I was in tears. More than me, my parents were feeling the pride, and they said it’s the same feeling when I made my India debut a decade back,” Kalpana had told PTI.
(With inputs from Agencies)
