Raipur Emerges as a Key Venue for Cricket Events
Raipur's Emergence as a Cricket Hub
Rajeev Shukla, the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has emphasized Raipur's increasing significance as a cricket venue. The city has recently resumed hosting Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, having previously held two seasons of the tournament. Shukla expressed his appreciation to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise for scheduling two matches in Raipur, highlighting the pride of having a team with Virat Kohli playing there. He noted the consistent rise in cricket activities in Raipur, which includes international games and upcoming women's matches. The leased stadium and a proposed cricket academy are expected to further enhance the sport's development in the region. Shukla remarked that the regular hosting of matches indicates Raipur's establishment as a cricket destination and stressed that politics should not interfere with the sport.
"Raipur has previously hosted two IPL seasons, and it is a proud moment for us that the tournament has returned. I extend my gratitude to the RCB franchise for bringing two matches here, especially with Virat Kohli's team playing in Raipur, which is a source of pride for the city. Cricket events are now happening continuously, including international matches and upcoming women's cricket. With the stadium leased and an academy being constructed, cricket's growth is assured. Raipur can no longer claim that matches are not being held; they are occurring regularly. Politics should not meddle with cricket," Shukla stated to reporters.
RCB's Matches in Raipur
At the beginning of the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru announced that five of their home matches would take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while the remaining two would be hosted in Raipur at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium.
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru kicked off their Raipur matches with a game against the Mumbai Indians earlier this week, followed by a match against the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday. The last IPL match held in the city was in 2016, and since January 2018, only two T20 Internationals have been played at this venue.