Union Minister and MP K. Rammohan Naidu, ACA President Kesineni Chinni, along with actor and Andhra Premier League (APL) brand ambassador Daggubati Venkatesh unveil the APL trophy, marking a grand start to the tournament at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Friday.
| Photo Credit: K. R. DEEPAK
Actress Pragya Jaiswal performs during the opening ceremony
| Photo Credit:
K.R Deepak
The much-anticipated Andhra Premier League (APL) Season 4 began on a grand note, with a star-studded opening ceremony, on Friday. This year’s launch event was bigger, featuring several high-profile guests and live performances.
Renowned actor and cricket enthusiast Daggubati Venkatesh, who is also appointed the brand ambassador for APL Season 4, added excitement to the already buzzing event at the Dr YS ACA VDCA International Cricket Stadium. The opening ceremony was also graced by Union Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Andhra Cricket Association (ACA) president, Member of Parliament, Kesineni Sivanadh (Chinni), and ACA secretary Sana Satish.
Adding to the entertainment quotient, actress Pragya Jaiswal and noted music director Sricharan Pakala delivered live performances that enthralled the audience.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Union Minister Rammohan Naidu expressed hope that APL Season 4 would serve as a platform for budding cricketing talent from rural areas. He emphasised that there is no dearth for talent in the country, and tournaments like the APL provide the much needed platform for players to shine. Citing the inspiring journey of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who rose through the IPL ranks to represent India at the Under-19 level, he encouraged young cricketers to seize their opportunity. He also extended his best wishes to all the seven participating teams.
ACA president Kesineni Sivanadh shared that this year’s tournament would be more expansive than the previous seasons, with more teams and matches, offering increased opportunities for players to prove themselves. He highlighted the success stories of Nitish Kumar Reddy and K. Srikar Bharat, both from Visakhapatnam, who have gone on to represent India. He also pointed out that two IPL matches were hosted in Visakhapatnam this year.
Brand ambassador Venkatesh Daggubati, who is also a cricket lover, interacted with the players, sharing his enthusiasm and love for the game.
The tournament’s opening match featured a clash between the Amaravati Royals and Kakinada Kings. A large crowd, including students and youth from various colleges, turned up to witness the action.
APL organisers are expecting even larger turnouts over the weekend, as cricket fever grips the region.
Published – August 08, 2025 11:15 pm IST
