Khammam farmer builds cricket ground for son’s training
KHAMMAM: A farmer in Khammam district has developed his farmland into a full-fledged cricket ground to train his son, spending about ₹35 lakh over the past two-and-a-half years.
Farmer converts five-acre plot into cricket facility
Potlapalli Nagaraju (Raja), a resident of Vepakuntla in Raghunathapalem mandal, is a keen cricket follower. He said his long-held wish was to see his son, Manikantha, become a cricketer.
To ensure regular practice, he converted his five-and-a-half-acre agricultural plot, located about 15 km from Khammam city, into a training facility. The ground includes a lawn, seven pitches, rest rooms and other amenities.
Monthly maintenance costs reach ₹50,000
Nagaraju employs two staffers to maintain the ground and spends about ₹50,000 every month on upkeep.
Every Sunday, doctors, police personnel and employees of various government departments from Khammam visit the ground to play. Teams from neighbouring districts also conduct matches there. A nominal fee is collected for maintenance.
Manikantha selected for Telangana Under-19 team
Nagaraju said these matches have helped improve his son’s skills by giving him regular match exposure. Manikantha, now in Intermediate second year, has competed in several state and national-level tournaments.
He has been selected for the Telangana Under-19 team for the national school games scheduled in Rajasthan in January 2026.
