Historic Cricket Moments at Vizag’s Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Stadium

The Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam is renowned for its rich cricketing history, marked by significant matches and memorable performances. This article highlights some of the most notable events that have taken place at this iconic venue.

The stadium hosted its first international match, an ODI between India and Zimbabwe, on April 5, 2001. The home team clinched victory, marking the beginning of the venue’s celebrated history in the cricketing world.

One of the most memorable individual performances at this stadium came on April 5, 2005, when MS Dhoni made a significant mark in his career by scoring 148 runs off 123 balls against Pakistan. This performance is often cited as a turning point in Dhoni’s career, showcasing his potential as a leading batsman.

Moving to the longer format of the game, Vizag hosted its inaugural Test match in November 2016, when India took on England. The match saw Virat Kohli scoring 167 and 81 runs across the two innings, and Ravichandran Ashwin taking eight wickets, leading India to a convincing 246-run victory.

In the Test against South Africa from October 2-6, 2019, Rohit Sharma achieved the rare feat of scoring centuries in both innings. His performance was complemented by Mayank Agarwal, who scored his maiden Test double-century, adding to the stadium’s legacy.

The stadium also embraced a new era of cricket by hosting India’s first-ever pink ball ODI under lights against West Indies on December 18, 2019. India set a commanding total of 387/5, which proved too much for the visiting team.

Moreover, on October 24, 2018, Virat Kohli became the fastest player to reach 10,000 ODI runs at this stadium, further solidifying its place in cricket history. Notably, India has never lost a match at this stadium when an Indian batter has scored a century, underscoring the ground’s favorable conditions for Indian players.

Looking ahead, the stadium is set to host two Indian Premier League matches in 2025, which is expected to raise the cricket fever even higher in Visakhapatnam.

In conclusion, the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium continues to be a vital part of Indian cricket’s legacy, witnessing numerous historic moments and serving as a fortress for the national team on many occasions.