Swanky washrooms to new canopies: Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal gets a new makeover for IPL 2025

Hyderabad: Leaving behind the bitterness of 2024, Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal is all set to host some of the biggest matches in IPL Season 2025.

This comes a year after the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) drew flak for poor infra, mismanagement, and alleged corruption by the old committee.

The stadium, which can house 35,000 spectators with 59 corporate boxes, will host nine matches (7 league and two extra being the qualifier and eliminator) in IPL 2025.

The IPL season 2025 begins on March 22 in Kolkata. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will play the opening match.

The Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will play its maiden match in the season against Rajasthan Royals at Uppal on March 23.

From renovated washrooms to new canopies, seats, and refurbished corporate boxes, cricket enthusiasts are ready to experience a new feel at the stadium. The tickets for the match will depend on the franchise.

In an exclusive interview with Coreena Suares and Sistla Dakshina Murthy, HCA president Jagan Mohan Rao spoke about his plans to transform Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, into a world-class facility and one of the best venues for the IPL tourney.

Excerpts:

NM: As HCA president, you are hosting the IPL for the second time. What are the changes you made this year at Uppal Stadium?

Jagan Mohan: The inaugural IPL season at Uppal Stadium was a learning experience for me because I was elected HCA president only two or three months before the tourney kicked off. At the time, the stadium was not extensively restored, and several projects were underway. Despite that, the HCA tried its best to ensure that spectators had a good experience.

Even BCCI awarded HCA Rs 50 lakh when the Uppal Stadium won the best pitch and ground award for the IPL 2024 season. For this IPL, the HCA took particular note of social media posts about substandard restrooms in the stadium. This year, the HCA renovated the restrooms, corporate boxes, canapes, lighting, seating, common area cleaning, and gates. Efforts are being taken to transform Hyderabad into the best venue in the country to host the IPL games and provide a better experience to cricket lovers.

NM: Did HCA pay the Uppal Stadium's outstanding electricity bills after it received heavy criticism during the previous IPL season?

Jagan Mohan: It's not an issue with the electricity or a pending bill. Some cases have been stayed and are pending in the courts. Some people tried to make an issue for their ulterior motives. The HCA cleared a bill of roughly Rs 1.50 crore within ten days of the incident being reported.

NM: Are there any plans by the HCA, to name a few stands in the Uppal Stadium after the talented cricketers?

Jagan Mohan: I do not wish to make any provocative statement about it. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) will vote on the naming of stands after renowned cricketers. I would like to name a stand after Mithali Raj since none of the stadium's stands are named after female cricketers. If the AGM supports my idea, I will name a stand after Mithali Raj.

NM: Gongadi Trisha and other Telangana women cricketers have recently shone at the Under-19 Women's World Cup. What is HCA doing to encourage them?

Jagan Mohan: In a first-of-its-kind in the country, the HCA launched a cricket league for female cricketers to promote the sport and is now establishing a special academy to train them with the help of Mithali Raj. Currently, the HCA runs an academy for both men and women cricketers at Gymkhana Grounds. The HCA intends to build unique facilities for female cricketers at Uppal Stadium. Plans are afoot to dedicate the stadium solely to female training and the Gymkhana to male training.

NM: Did the HCA keep track of how many female cricketers were being nurtured?

Jagan Mohan: Over 5,000 new players registered for the HCA's summer camps held in districts across the state during the previous season. Women account for around 25% of the total player base. Furthermore, the HCA has up to 25,000 active registered players, and plans are underway to grow this figure to 30,000.

NM: What was the support being given to the HCA by the state government to encourage cricket in Telangana?

Jagan Mohan: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is a sportsman himself and understands the players' anguish. He supports not only cricketers but also other sportspersons in the state. The HCA had proposed a cash incentive of Rs 50 lakh for Gongadi Trisha, but the chief minister increased it to Rs 1 crore. The state government has also given its nod to provide 100 acres of land to the HCA in Hyderabad and expects 10 plus acres of land in each district headquarters.

In Hyderabad, the HCA intends to build a cricket hamlet on 100 acres of government-allocated land near Mucherla. Currently, the HCA is leasing approximately 30-40 grounds per day to hold cricket matches throughout the season. A proposal has been prepared to build 20-30 grounds on 100 acres of government-allocated land.

HCA intends to build a cricket stadium in Hyderabad to accommodate one lakh people. In this context, the HCA has asked the government to set aside 200 acres of land to promote the game.

NM: Who allocates the budget to the HCA to take up the renovation works in the Uppal Stadium?

Jagan Mohan: HCA doesn’t have any direct involvement in business. The stadium will be leased to the Sunrisers team during the IPL season, and they will pay the amount to the HCA accordingly. The BCCI will grant Rs 100 crore every year to the HCA, which would be spent on regular cricketing activities, including coaching, traveling charges, matches, and four-star accommodation for players, including Ranji and U-19 players. The Uppal Stadium alone has 100-plus staff and 35 coaches to train the players.

NM: How does the ongoing irregularity cases investigation by the central agencies hamper the HCA?

Jagan Mohan: So far, there have been no raids on the HCA, but a probe is continuing in a few earlier cases involving canopy installation and gym equipment purchasing. At the moment, no new cases have been filed against the new HCA body, An inquiry is underway into issues. However, they have not jeopardized the association's operations.