Amravati, Andhra Pradesh, is to be the hub of Indian cricket with plans for the country's largest cricket stadium. The Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) has launched its ambitious project, which will surpass the seating capacity of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, currently the largest cricket stadium in the world.

ACA President Kesineni Sivanth has announced in a media briefing that the proposed stadium would seat over 1.32 lakh spectators. The project forms part of a greater vision for a 200-acre sports city in Amravati that will redefine cricket infrastructure in India. Sixty acres of land have been requested from the Andhra Pradesh state government to bring this vision into reality.

The project is of global importance, said Sivanth.“This stadium will not only redefine cricket infrastructure in the country but also put Amravati on the global sporting map.” The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is supposed to provide financial assistance, and additional funds are expected to be raised locally. 

The ACA's plans are not limited to the stadium; it aims at hosting the 2029 National Games in Amravati, thus taking the city to the top rank of sports capitals in India.

To nurture local talent, the ACA has plans to establish three state-of-the-art cricket academies in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada, and Rayalaseema. Former Indian cricket legends Mithali Raj and Robin Singh are expected to spearhead training initiatives at these academies, providing world-class guidance to budding cricketers.

In addition to new infrastructure, the ACA is also upgrading the Visakhapatnam cricket stadium with modern facilities so that it can host Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. This is part of the ACA's vision to attract national and international cricketing events to the region.

ACA President Sivanth expressed confidence in the association's ability to develop local talent. We aim to have at least 15 players from Andhra Pradesh in IPL teams over the next two years,” he said, highlighting the association's dedication to promoting homegrown talent.

India has seen a major development in the cricketing infrastructure in recent times, from stadiums like Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This is going to change with the project of Amravati. Andhra Pradesh will soon find its place on the list of those states that lead this transformation.

Top 5 largest cricket stadiums in the world

Here's a quick glance at the largest cricket stadiums in the world:

Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad, India): 1.32 lakh capacity; the largest in the world.

Melbourne Cricket Ground (Melbourne, Australia): Over 1 lakh capacity.

Eden Gardens (Kolkata, India): 68,000 capacity; it is famous for its historical value.

Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium (Raipur, India): More than 65,000 capacity.

Perth Stadium (Perth, Australia): More than 61,000 capacity.