Women’s World Cup 2025: India, one of the top contenders at the ongoing ODI Women’s World Cup, is heading into a make-or-break week, and it’s all happening in Visakhapatnam. Known as the ‘City of Destiny’, Vizag could very well shape how the tournament unfolds not just for India but also for other title hopefuls like Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.
With the World Cup returning to Andhra Pradesh after nearly three decades, the local cricket associations are pulling out all the stops to make it a memorable experience for players and fans alike.
World Cup 2025: All Eyes on Vizag
“We are very excited to have Vizag host some big matches, possibly even the biggest one – India vs Australia. The ACA has been working tirelessly, under the guidance of president Kesineni Sivanath and secretary Sana Sathish Babu, to ensure that Andhra cricket takes the next step, starting with this tournament,” said Girish Dongre, Chief Operating Officer of the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), while speaking to a leading media outlet.
Stadium Gets a Fresh New Look
The ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam, now more than 20 years old, has seen some major upgrades this year. Having hosted a couple of Delhi Capitals’ IPL matches recently, the venue is already familiar with high-profile games.
Earlier this year, the stadium got a brand-new lighting system.
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“We have brand new Phillips flood lights installed this year. The first game under them was played on March 24, the first IPL game between Delhi and Lucknow (Super Giants). These are giving the lux levels of about 3,700 to 3,800, which is great for the 4K broadcast as well,” Dongre explained.
But the upgrades didn’t stop there. From practice facilities and dressing rooms to stands and hospitality areas, everything has been improved.
“We have completely new dressing rooms. We also know how important recovery is for the players these days. So, while most stadiums have only one or maybe no ice baths, we have two. Not just in the home dressing room, but in both dressing rooms. These days, teams are travelling in bigger numbers and players prefer to take ice baths after practice also, which is why we decided to do this,” he added.
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A Familiar Ground for Team India
The Indian women’s team won’t feel like strangers in Vizag. Just last month, they held an intensive training camp at the stadium and got a first look at the renovated facilities.
“The dressing rooms are totally new and have been liked by all the players who have visited the stadium. The Indian women had a camp here and they were so, so happy. In fact, Amol Muzumdar observed that we have one of the best dressing rooms he has ever seen and was so delighted that they decided to do the camp here in Vizag,” Dongre shared.
Keeping Fans Front and Center
Vizag is one of just two venues, along with Navi Mumbai, that will host multiple India games in this World Cup. To ensure a buzzing atmosphere in the stands, ACA has made tickets very affordable.
“After our commitments to ICC, BCCI, our districts and our cricketers, about 18,000 tickets (out of 27,000) are available for general sale. We have also ensured that the prices are as low as Rs. 100 per ticket. And the sales for the first two games have been very good,” Dongre said.
Even for the big-ticket India vs Australia clash on Sunday, ACA hasn’t made drastic changes to ticket pricing.
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“For India vs Australia, at the moment, I am looking at a 100 per cent packed stadium. What we have done just for that match is to implement surge pricing. The initial leg of sales was Rs. 100 per ticket. In the second stage, we have made it Rs. 150 per ticket, and we will not go beyond that. For all other games, tickets are capped at Rs. 100 only,” he added.
Smooth Game Day Experience
Expecting packed stadiums, ACA has also made arrangements for crowd management and parking.
“We have our own parking area, which can hold about 250 cars in the B ground and about 70 to 80 in the A ground. In the A ground, we have space for about 400 to 500 two-wheelers, with a similar number in the B ground as well,” Dongre said.
If that’s not enough, they have backup options too.
“Apart from that, if there is a demand, we can also hire additional spaces. We normally turn to the adjacent Vizag convention, an engineering college that is close by, or an open ground that is privately operated. We have those options as well.”
ACA has worked closely with local officials to make the matchday experience fan-friendly. From free drinking water and medical rooms to upgraded toilets and accessible seating for the differently abled, the goal is to make every visitor feel comfortable. Fans can also buy tickets at the venue from Gate 17.
What’s Next for ACA and the Stadium
While the stadium now checks all the boxes for international standards, ACA has plans to take things further.
“Vizag is the only international ground Andhra has, and there is scope for continuous improvement. Our next step will be to have a good gym for our players. At the moment, we have a very basic one, and we are looking to upgrade,” Dongre said.
He also spoke about the need for an indoor training facility.
“When the Indian women had a preparatory camp here, it rained on the first two days. Luckily, they had a break day and a bonding day, so they had no disturbance. But that needs to change. We have already started discussing it.”
ACA is also committed to growing both men’s and women’s cricket from the grassroots to the senior level. As a tribute to women’s cricket in the state, two stands at the stadium will be named after legendary former captain Mithali Raj, the highest run-scorer in women’s international cricket, and Ravi Kalpana, the first woman from Andhra Pradesh to play for India.
Visakhapatnam’s World Cup 2025 Fixtures
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India vs South Africa on October 9
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India vs Australia on October 12
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South Africa vs Bangladesh on October 13
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Australia vs Bangladesh on October 16
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England vs New Zealand on October 26
This is the first time Visakhapatnam is hosting a women’s World Cup match. However, Andhra Pradesh has hosted one before – a 1997 game in Vijayawada where England beat Pakistan by 230 runs. The city also hosted a men’s World Cup match in 1996, where Australia defeated Kenya by 97 runs.
With all eyes on Vizag and the buzz around this week’s games, it looks like the City of Destiny could become the turning point in India’s World Cup journey.
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