Wichita State University graduate student Sai Kartik Ghanepudi has watched the Wichita State University Cricket Club grow over the past few years, but the lack of a convenient place to play has limited its potential. is limited.
That will soon change with the opening of a field at Dr. Glenn Day Park, located at 2801 North Grove, about two miles from campus. The club will hold a groundbreaking ceremony in April, with an opening ceremony scheduled for May 17 at 5 p.m. Ghanepudi, who is pursuing a doctorate in cybersecurity, said he hopes to start hosting matches this month.
“(Now) we're taking a step forward,” he said. “You can see the crickets growing here over the years.”
The club, which has existed in some form at WSU for about 30 years, has about 100 members, a significant increase from 2018, when Ghanepudi became president. Six years ago, it was often difficult to get the 11 players needed to play on a team.
The club previously practiced and played at Plainview Park, 2819 Fees Street, about nine miles from campus. Due to the distance, it was difficult to get the team together for practice, and they shared the field with other clubs.
“Many students don't have vehicles,” Ghanepudi said. “There were days when I would drop off five guys and pick up five more. So I contacted WSU and pitched the idea, 'Why don't we put a field near WSU?' is.”
Garnepudi began the project last fall with WSU Campus Recreation and Wichita Parks & Recreation Director Troy Houtman. Campus Recreation paid for the concrete pad for the new field. Cricket is played in a circular area and requires approximately 150 yards in diameter.
“The (day) park was within biking distance or walking distance,” Campus Recreation Director John Lee said. “It's never been a reasonable distance to campus. That's what makes this exciting for them.”
Ghanepudi said prospective students contact him with questions about Wichita State's cricket culture. The availability of the sport is a deciding factor for students from countries such as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh when choosing a university.
He also expects the Cricket World Cup to be held this June, which will increase interest in the sport of cricket in the United States. The United States will play on the field for the first time, with games scheduled in Lauderhill, Florida, East Meadow, New York, and Grand Prairie, Texas.
“For international students, this is a huge advantage for WSU,” Ghanepudi said. “People contact me and say, 'Do you really have a cricket field?' We have our own field. We have a club. We play professional cricket. . We play in a league.”
WSU clubs practice on Fridays and play games over the weekend. The league includes teams from Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Bentonville, Ark.
“We always strive to offer a variety of sports to meet the needs of our students,” Lee said. “Cricket is part of the culture for many of them. It's a laid-back game. There's a lot of camaraderie. You get to talk. You enjoy each other's company.”
For information about the WSU Cricket Club, please email Sai Karthik Garnepudi.