Cricket museum opens to public from July 15

Indore: The newly inaugurated Cricket Museum at Indore's Holkar Stadium is all set to welcome the general public from Tuesday, 15 July. Developed by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA), the museum is already attracting keen interest from schools, cricket clubs, and state associations across the country. Notably, it is the first-of-its-kind cricket museum in India set up and managed by a state cricket association.The upcoming opening has sparked excitement across the city and the country, with MPCA receiving enquiries from local schools, cricket clubs, and even other state associations expressing interest in visiting. "Enquiries for the museum visit have already started pouring in. Brochures will be kept at hotels, schools, and colleges to increase awareness," MPCA president Abhilash Khandekar told TOI. He added that the association is also collaborating with educational institutions and hospitality partners to promote visits. The museum will remain open on Sundays and will be closed on Mondays to accommodate weekend visitors.MPCA officials are currently engaged in last-minute preparations to ensure a seamless experience for visitors when the museum opens next week. "We want everything to be perfect—from security to logistics—to manage the expected footfall," said MPCA CAO Rohit Pandit.Inaugurated on 7 July by former cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar and Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, the museum features iconic cricket memorabilia and has been designed with inspiration from the iconic Lord's Pavilion in London. A prominent highlight is the replica of the Lord's balcony with a life-size statue of Kapil Dev holding the 1983 World Cup trophy — a tribute to India's historic victory.Other attractions include cricket gear used by legends such as Sachin Tendulkar's pads, Rahul Dravid's gloves, Dilip Vengsarkar's helmet, and Indore's Amay Khurasiya's bat from the 1999 World Cup. Visitors will also get to see signed memorabilia from the 1983 World Cup-winning team, jerseys of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni, Avesh Khan's shoes, and bats used by Rajat Patidar and Venkatesh Iyer.The museum also houses a statue of Colonel C.K. Nayudu in military attire and exhibits match balls, books, and rare artefacts from Indore and the world's cricketing history. Entry fees have been set at Rs.100 for adults and Rs.50 for children aged 12 and above, while children below 12 years can enter free of charge. Plans are underway to introduce online ticketing for convenience. The museum will remain closed during international matches at Holkar Stadium.