Ask any cricket lover in Vijag about your favorite cricket memory, and nine out of 10 said that in 2005, the famous knock of former Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni against Pakistan. , The match introduced Dhoni in the cricket world and what can he do in Team India.
When it is about cricket in Vizag, the former director of the Center for Policy Studies and former-cumpetter A. Prasanna Kumar recalled Colonel CK Nayedu’s visit, who played an important role in bringing cricket to Andhra.
CK Nayudu was India’s first Test captain when India was played against England in 1932 at Lord’s. Twenty -one years later, Nayedu came to Guntur and founded the Andhra Cricket Association. He led the Andhra cricket team for his first Ranji Trophy in 1953-54.
Mr. Prasanna Kumar remembers the formation of Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association (VDCA) in 1962 by former Superintendent of Police, Late CG Saldanha. He was given by Secretary A. Help was provided by Radhakrishna, and the then Governor of Andhra Pradesh, General Srinagesh.
International cricket
All this was in a three -day match with Sir Vivian Richards in a three -day match with West Indies XI, which in the ‘First International Match’ played in Vizag in 1987 in a three -day match against the board chairman K Xi, at Indira Priyadarshini Municipal Corporation Stadium, Which is also known as Municipal Stadium. A city, he says.
He said, “The city’s cricket lovers and neighboring areas enjoyed seeing Viv Richards in action, although he scored only 6 runs and took a wicket as Wi shook the domestic side in less than three years,” He remembers.
The first one day international match was played in December 1988, when India clashed with New Zealand. This was Dilip Vengsarkar who inspired India to win.
Vizag also has a history of Sachin Tendulkar, making his debut as captain against an international side, when he led the rest of India in February 1993 against Mike Etharton’s XI of England, England, England. Sachin, then only 19, and Sanjay Manjrekar pleased the house crowd with his stroke. , The coastal city hosted its second ODI between India and the West Indies in 1994.
The third ODI got an opportunity to host the World Cup match between Australia and Kenya on 23 February 1996 as on 23 February 1996, the opportunity to host the World Cup match between Australia and Kenya. It was the only WC match played in the coastal city in all formats. It was said as a historical occasion, as the three continents came together for a cricket match.
In 1998, Vijag hosted a three -day match between Rahul Dravid and Board President K Shee, led by Australia. The fifth ODI was held between Australia and India in April 2001.
“We used to rely on newspapers, radio and TV for matches announcements. There was no social media, and it was a completely different world. Getting tickets for an international cricket match was considered a ‘mission impossible’ task. Nevertheless, my father used his contacts with Visakhapatnam Port Trust (VPT), now Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), which to get tickets for ODI between India and Australia, “K Jagdiswara Naidu, city A bank employee remembers.
“All roads led a city. There was a huge traffic, and to avoid it, we had to walk from Jagdamba Junction. The atmosphere was electric in the stadium. The security charts and flexi were used to allow, on which we expressed love for Sachin. Shane Warne and Ricky were also many fans for Ponting. Australia surpassed us with Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting Scoring Tones. However, Sachin’s knock of 62 in 38 balls has thrilled us. Looking at him, the audience at the stadium, while smashing McGrath and other Australian bowlers, felt that he would repeat the 1998 Sharjah’s innings, ”he remembers.
Football dominance
While cricket was gradually attracting attention to the northern Andhra districts, there was a large part of people to watch football matches. Many youths expressed interest in sports enthusiastic football.
Former national football player, Mr. Bhaskar Rao recalls that football, not cricket, was one of the most demand after the game in Vizag.
“Football had left an impression among the youth, all thanks to the soul in West Bengal, the maize of Indian football. Railway grounds and gymkhan grounds hosted the National Football Tournament, which participated in clubs in various states including West Bengal. Vizag used to reach the field on bull-carts and watched the matches on the bull-carts. The ticket price was around and 2 and the demand for it was very large, ”he says.
He also said, “The lack of infrastructure, stadium and sports quota jobs are the reason behind the disappearance of football.”
Mr. Bhaskar Rao also saw, “People loved that hard-touching of the ball, and it attracted many sports lovers to cricket. In some cricket playing countries, they prefer to bowl. They produce bowlers. But in India, people are attracted to batting, especially power-touching. Sachin’s innings in Sharjah against Australia was named ‘Desert Storm’. What Dhoni did for Pakistan in Vizag in 2005 and what most of the people like about the Indian Premier League are power hitting. ,
Rise of new stadium
When Indira Priyadarshani Stadium was giving countless memories, ACA had increased its support to VDCA, due to which the beautiful Dr. in PM Palam. The YSR ACA VDCA Stadium was established, which was considered as the outskirts of the city.
The first ODE at the newly constructed PM Palam Stadium was none other than India and Pakistan, in which Dhoni announced his arrival with a blistering knock.
The year 2016 was a memorable year in the history of Vizag cricket. Vijag got the status of the test and hosted his first Test match between India and England in November 2016. In February the same year, Vijag hosted his first Twenty20 between India and Sri Lanka. To date, Vijag has hosted three T20s and three tests.
IPL
Although there is no IPL home team for Andhra Pradesh, many IPL franchises have made Vijag their second home. Prior to the kingdom, Deccan Chargers played a few matches in Vizag. A decade ago, Sunrisers Hyderabad also used Vizag as their home ground.
In 2016, Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Super Zments made Vijag their second home ground. The visible stadium hosted the IPL qualifier and eliminator in 2019.
Nearly five years later, IPL returned to Vijag in 2024, when Delhi Capital opted to play two matches in Vijag. The team will also play two inaugural matches this season.
Players’ favorite
Visakhapatnam has been a favorite for many cricketers. Dhoni, who announced his arrival with a 148 bang against Pakistan, has mentioned his love for his cricket experience in the coastal city.
Every time he comes in Vizag, cricket lovers go to the boners in anticipation of catching a glimpse of him. Even in the recently held IPL season 2024, the former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) captain did a show with 37 runs off just 16 balls. The audience felt that Dhoni had returned the clock.
When Virat Kohli plays, every stadium turns into its fort. However, Virat has a special place for Vizag. In 2010, Virat, who played his first ODI in Vizag, scored a ton and postponed the man’s man. In the second match in 2011, when Virat played his second ODI against WI in Vijag, he led India to win, scored 117. When Vijag hosted his first Test match in November 2016, Virat Kohli scored 167 and 81 runs in two innings and also found a man of the match.
Many stallwarts and young blood
Mr. Prasanna Kumar saw that the birth of ACA was a historical program in Andhra sports.
Two famous Andhra cricketers CK Nayedu and CS Nayedu came to Guntur with Mashtak Ali and played a festival match marking the inauguration of ACA in 1953. CK Nayedu led the first Andhra side in the Ranji Trophy against Mysore.
He remembers Vizag’s GSN Raju, who scored the first century for Andhra University in inter-university cricket.
Cricketer Gopana was remembered for his aggressive batting approach, while the KVR Murthy, who played for three states in the Ranji Trophy, was from test probes in the early 60s.
Bhavana was another popular all -rounder. He also said that Andhra was the best hour of cricket when KBR Murthy led Andhra and in 1985 led Andhra to the top of the table in south region cricket, and wicketkeeper MSK Prasad created the national side in 1999.
Venugopal Rao also left his mark on the international side in 2005. Visakhapatnam’s wicketkeeper batsman Young KS Bharat has represented India in tests and has also played the World Testing Championship Final against Australia in 2023. Reddy, Sunrisers Hyderabad, after showing their talent in the IPL in 2024, earned a young woman call-up for T20. Team and Test Team. His Test tonne at the recently held Seema Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) earned a laurel from the cricketing world.
Many cricketers from Visakhapatnam and northern Andhra have worked hard to make it citizens. Among them, Avinash Payla from Vizag, who was selected by Punjab Kings, while Srikakulam’s youth, Tripurana Vijay, was raised by Delhi capitals during the recently held IPL auction.
Members of ACA, led by President Kesinni Shivnadh (Chinni), are trying to strengthen cricket in the state. In addition to improving infrastructure and facilities for players, ACA is also mulling to establish centers of excellence on the lines of BCCI.
“In addition to providing facilities to the players to give them the best environment in different parts of the state, the number of development works is being taken. ACA Secretary S. Satish said that steps are also being taken to strengthen domestic cricket in both men and women category.
Published – February 22, 2025 08:45 am IST
