India’s first State association-led cricket museum inaugurated in Indore

 

 

In a landmark moment for the Indian cricket, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association’s (MPCA) Cricket Museum in Indore on Tuesday. This is the first cricket museum in the country established by a state cricket association. Former Indian Captain Dilip Vengsarkar was also present as the guest of honour. Calling it “nothing less than a mandir of cricket,” Scindia praised the museum as a labour of love by the MPCA. “It is not every day that a dream turns into brick and light. What MPCA has built is not just a museum, but a storyteller in disguise,” he remarked. Located within the MPCA premises, the museum houses over 500 rare cricket artefacts, including century-old bats, jerseys, original scorecards, signed letters, and personal memorabilia donated by cricketing legends like Col. C K Nayudu, Kapil Dev, Rahul Dravid, Dilip Vengsarkar and others.

 

Scindia, visibly moved, reflected on his initial vision for the museum during his tenure as MPCA President over 15 years ago and applauded the current MPCA leadership led by President Abhilash Nandigar for bringing the vision to fruition. Highlighting cricketing nostalgia, the museum features notable items like a 1956 edition of the Wisden Almanack and the iconic Schlesinger Mongoose bat signed by Kapil Dev from his legendary 175* innings against Zimbabwe. The museum also hosts a special IPL gallery and a tribute corner to MPCA greats, spanning from the Holkar era to contemporary icons. During the event, Scindia paid heartfelt tribute to Dilip Vengsarkar, calling him a ‘gentleman cricketer’ and “one of India’s finest who made the world pause and watch.” The inauguration also spotlighted MPCA’s recent cricketing achievements, including a Ranji Trophy win, production of 11 IPL players, and significant strides in women’s cricket. Rising stars like Krantigaur, Suchi Upadhyay, Avishi Shukla and Vaishnavi were acknowledged for their contributions. Concluding his address, Scindia stated, “The MPCA Museum is a testament to the spirit of Bharat where heritage meets aspiration. With such vision, MPCA will never be caught behind… but will go on to score many more centuries.”