Lokesh pitches Andhra–Victoria cricket ties, eyes IPL-level talent pipeline

Andhra Pradesh Minister for Human Resources Development Nara Lokesh met executives of Cricket Victoria at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday to discuss strengthening cricketing collaboration between Andhra Pradesh and Victoria.

Mr. Lokesh said the Andhra Premier League (APL), organised by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA), was aimed at identifying and nurturing local talent to reach Indian Premier League (IPL) standards. He noted that Andhra players such as Shaik Rasheed, Tripurna Vijay, Nitish Reddy, Satyanarayana Raju, and Paila Avinash have been shortlisted for the IPL 2025 mega auction, reflecting the APL’s success.

He suggested exploring joint training camps and friendly matches between Andhra and Victoria, promoting eco-friendly sports infrastructure, and expanding opportunities for women cricketers. He also called for leveraging digital platforms to enhance fan engagement.

Cricket Victoria executives expressed interest in introducing cricket education diplomas and degree programmes in India and revealed plans to establish a cricket academy in the country. They reaffirmed their commitment to women’s cricket and grassroots development through school and community initiatives.

Earlier in Melbourne, Mr. Lokesh addressed the CII Partnership Summit Roadshow, highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s emergence as one of India’s fastest-growing States. He said the State had attracted ₹10 lakh crore worth of investments in just 16 months, calling it “only the beginning.” Referring to the Google Data Centre project, he said it was the result of 13 months of persistent effort and symbolised the State’s vision to evolve into a $2.4 trillion economy under Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s leadership.