History of ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam
Follow the ACA VDCA Stadium history from its 2003 opening and M.S. Dhoni’s breakthrough ODI century to Test cricket and the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
Visakhapatnam · Andhra Pradesh
The ACA VDCA Stadium history begins in 2003, when a purpose-built cricket ground opened at Pothinamallayyapalem on the outskirts of Visakhapatnam. The venue soon became closely associated with M.S. Dhoni’s breakthrough ODI innings, before staging its first Test in 2016 and a major ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match in 2025. Today, cricket databases commonly identify it as Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, while many supporters simply call it the Vizag cricket stadium.
01
A New Cricket Stadium for Visakhapatnam
The ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam was established in 2003 at Pothinamallayyapalem, beyond the city’s older central cricket locations. Its grass playing area, floodlights and low-rise setting against the surrounding hills gave Andhra cricket a modern venue for domestic and international fixtures.
This early identity still matters. The stadium was not built around one famous match; it was created to give the region a permanent cricket stage capable of growing with the game.
02
M.S. Dhoni’s 148 Puts Vizag on the Cricket Map
The stadium’s first ODI became its defining early match. India scored 356/9 against Pakistan and won by 58 runs, but the innings remembered most was M.S. Dhoni’s 148 from 123 balls.
Promoted to No. 3, Dhoni attacked a high-profile Pakistan bowling line-up and turned the new Visakhapatnam cricket stadium into the setting for his first ODI century. The knock remains central to the venue’s identity because it connected a developing ground with the emergence of one of India’s most influential cricketers.
03
The Stadium Receives Its Longer Formal Name
In September 2009, the Andhra Cricket Association decided to name the venue Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium after the former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
The shorter name, ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, continues to appear widely in cricket coverage and supporter searches. This is why readers may encounter both names for the same ground. “ACA” refers to the Andhra Cricket Association, while “VDCA” refers to the Visakhapatnam District Cricket Association.
04
Test Cricket Arrives in Visakhapatnam
The ground hosted its first Test when India played England in November 2016. India won by 246 runs, with Virat Kohli scoring 167 and 81 and receiving the Player of the Match award.
The match expanded the venue’s status beyond limited-overs cricket. A five-day Test also showed that the ground could stage a contest in which conditions changed across several sessions, giving its cricket history more depth than a single famous ODI performance.
05
A Women’s World Cup Chapter
The venue hosted India’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against Australia on 12 October 2025. Before the game, the Mithali Raj Stand was inaugurated, while a gate was named after former India wicketkeeper-batter Raavi Kalpana.
The occasion connected the stadium’s international profile with Andhra’s contribution to women’s cricket. It also added a new layer to the venue’s timeline: recognition was no longer centred only on men’s international milestones.
Where is ACA–VDCA Stadium? ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium is located at D.No. 10-24/1, NH-16, Pothinamallayyapalem, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 530041.
Editorial research
Author Bio
Jyoti Bhatia is the founder and editor of PitchVaani. She researches cricket ground histories, pitch conditions, match records and visitor information through source-led editorial research.
