Smriti Mandhana’s suggestion to recognise and honour Indian cricketers was met with support. The Andhra Pradesh stadium's two stands will be named after Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana. The decision for stadium stands to be named after women cricketers arose from Mandhana's chats with the Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh during the third edition of Breaking Boundaries held in August.
Mandhana voiced, as she had on several occasions before, that said that while cricket grounds anywhere across India may boast stands or gates named after male cricketing legends, it is sadly not so common to bestow such recognition on their women counterparts, in spite of great contributions made to the game with their own hands.
These remarks touched a chord. Lokesh was deeply moved and promptly took the matter to ACA for giving operational consideration to it. Soon after, the ACA passed a resolution to name two stands in the name of Mithali Raj, the highest run-scorer and former captain of India and Ravi Kalpana, an Andhra-born wicketkeeper-batter who has represented India at the international level.
With the occasion of the final game being timely considered, the unveiling of the two stands was put together for October 12, during India’s Women's World Cup contest against Australia in Visakhapatnam. Both teams thus far have not tasted defeat and are considered the big favourites for the competition, so the timing surely adds to the occasion.
Under the Women’s World Cup, five matches will be held at the Visakhapatnam stadium, including India against South Africa on October 9 and Australia on October 12.
