ACA President and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Shivanath revealed that the state government has allocated land within the proposed Sports City in Amaravati for this massive project

■ The stadium will have a seating capacity of 1.25 lakh

■ ICC Chairman Jay Shah has granted approval for the stadium

kiranmai tutika I amaravati

In a major boost to sports infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has announced plans to construct India's second-largest cricket stadium in Amaravati. ACA President and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Shivanath revealed that the state government has allocated land within the proposed Sports City in Amaravati for this massive project.

The stadium will have a seating capacity of 1.25 lakh, making it one of the largest cricket venues in the world. The initiative follows Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s directive to include a world-class cricket stadium as part of the Sports City development plan.

Given the scale of the project, ACA has requested the government to ensure robust public transportation facilities near the stadium. Shivanath stated that CM Chandrababu Naidu responded positively to this request, ensuring that accessibility will not be an issue for fans and visitors. Shivanath also mentioned that ICC Chairman Jay Shah has granted approval for the stadium, clearing the way for the venue to host international matches once completed.

Discussing the recent issues regarding IPL matches in Visakhapatnam, Shivanath revealed that ACA had approached Delhi Capitals to host IPL matches at the city’s stadium. However, the franchise reportedly declined, citing the poor condition of the stadium.

Following this, Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh intervened, assuring that the stadium would be upgraded. After the renovations, the IPL organizers agreed to allot two matches to Visakhapatnam. Shivanath praised the rapid transformation of the stadium, stating that the renovation work was completed in record time, making it IPL-ready.

Initially, ACA had plans to upgrade the existing Mangalagiri stadium into an international venue. However, due to structural issues in the construction area, the plan had to be abandoned. Instead, ACA will now develop Mangalagiri as a Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket venue, with preparations to host matches for at least 150 days a year.

To further strengthen cricket infrastructure in Andhra Pradesh, ACA is launching cricket academies in Vijayawada, Kadapa, and Vizianagaram. Additionally, new cricket stadiums will be daeveloped in Araku, Kuppam, and Kalyandurgam, ensuring top-notch facilities for budding cricketers.