Raipur Reestablishes Itself as a Key IPL Venue with Exciting Matches
Raipur's Cricket Scene Flourishes
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 14: Rajeev Shukla, the Vice President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), has emphasized Raipur's rising status as a cricketing hub. The city has once again welcomed Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, having previously hosted two seasons of the tournament.
Shukla expressed his appreciation to the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise for scheduling two matches in Raipur, highlighting the significance of having a team with star player Virat Kohli participating in the city.
He noted the increasing cricketing activities in Raipur, which include 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 consistent hosting of matches indicates Raipur's emergence as a recognized cricket destination, stressing that politics should not interfere with the sport.
“Raipur previously hosted two IPL seasons, and it’s a proud moment to see the tournament return. I extend my thanks to the RCB franchise for bringing two matches here, especially with Virat Kohli's team playing in our city. Cricket events are now a regular occurrence, including international fixtures and women's cricket. With the stadium on lease and an academy being established, cricket's growth is assured. Raipur can no longer claim that matches are infrequent; they are happening consistently. Politics should stay out of cricket,” Shukla stated to reporters.
At the beginning of the season, RCB confirmed that five of their home games would take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, while the remaining two matches would be held 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 showdown with the Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday. The last IPL match in the city occurred in 2016, and only two T20 Internationals have been played at this venue since January 2018.