KS Bharat to be felicitated by Andhra Cricket Association during the second IND vs ENG test; Jay Shah invited

KS Bharat is the third cricketer from Andhra Pradesh to play for India after MSK Prasad and Hanuma Vihari.

Indian wicket-keeper-batter Kona Srikar Bharat will be felicitated by the Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) when India plays the second test against England begin on February 2nd. Bharat, a local youngster who began his cricketing career on the same ground, will become the second Andhra cricketer to play test cricket for India at ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium .

Only three players from Andhra have played for India, which includes MSK Prasad, Hanuma Vihari and now Bharat. Legendary CK Nayudu, who hailed from Andhra and was the first-ever captain of Indian team was from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh. However, he played his cricket for Central Provinces-Berar and led Holkar to eight Ranji Trophy finals in nine years.

Bharat will enter the same stadium as a test player for Indian where he was once a ball boy during an India vs Pakistan ODI match in 2005. ACA (Andhra Cricket Association) has planned a small felicitation ceremony for the cricketer.

“Yes, we have planned a felicitation ceremony for Bharat. It will happen here in the stadium itself on the Upper Floor of the South Stand. We requested a time for 2nd Feb, but the Indian Team management has given time for the 1st, so we will he doing the felicitation on Thursday,” ACA secretary Gopinath Reddy told Cricketnext.com.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah invited for KS Bharat’s felicitation ceremony in Vizag

The ACA has also invited BCCI apex council members, including BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, to the test match. BCCI President Roger Binny has confirmed his presence on the 3rd and will be there on the 4th (the third day of the test match), according to Reddy.

“We have invited BCCI Secretary Mr Jay Shah ji and the President and Vice president when we all met at Hyderabad recently. We requested their presence here at Vizag and we also hope to lay the foundation stone for an indoor net here. Even though we have not got a confirmation, we are hopeful that he will come here” Reddy added.

The ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium has a capacity of 29,000 and will hold its third test, the first since 2016. India have achieved triumph on both prior occasions, defeating England in 2016 and South Africa in 2019. The first test in Hyderabad drew a large crowd and Reddy believes the second test would draw a similar crowd.

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