Rajasthan Cricket Association

The Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), headquartered in Jaipur, is the governing body of cricket in the state of Rajasthan. RCA administers the game of cricket in the Indian state of Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Cricket Association was founded in 1931 at Ajmer and was formerly known as the Rajputana Cricket Association.

It officiates the state level cricket in Rajasthan and the Rajasthan cricket team. It selects the cricket team of the state of Rajasthan to play in Indian first class cricket, namely the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare trophy and the Duleep Trophy.

Vaibhav Gehlot is the incumbent President of the RCA. The Rajasthan Cricket Association is officially recognized by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and affiliated to it.

History
The association was formerly known as Rajputana was renamed to Rajasthan Cricket Association after the formation of the State of Rajasthan in 1956. Headed by Bhagwat Singh Mewar until 1972, it was controlled by the Rungta family from 1972 to 2004. Promulgation of a Sports legislation by the Government of Rajasthan resulted in Lalit Modi beating Rungta in the first ever contested election in 2005.

Former IPL chief Lalit Modi created a world-class infrastructure in Jaipur, restructuring the stadium and cricket academy. Changing political equations saw Lalit Modi lose by a wafer-thin margin to Sanjay Dixit in 2009. The Association was headed by CP Joshi as president and Sanjay Dixit as the Secretary. Lalit Modi won the election again in 2013, however legal disputes have marred his team's functioning in the last 2 years.

Rajasthan Cricket Association's Rajasthan cricket team won the Ranji Trophy in 2011 for the first time in the 77-year history of the tournament, by beating Baroda on 15 January 2011 at Vadodara. They gained another title win in the 2011/12 seasons. Prior to this, Rajasthan had finished runners-up eight times between 1960 and 1974.

Finance
In a move to honor and help former Ranji players who have represented Rajasthan in the past, the RCA declared a monthly pension scheme for former players wherein players who have played 5 to 14 matches will be given Rs. 5,000 per month while players who have represented Rajasthan in 15 to 24 games, will be given an amount of Rs. 7,500. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) gives monthly pension to players who have played at least 25 first-class games, hence this decision from the RCA comes as a godsend for former Rajasthan players who haven't represented their state in 25 first-class matches.

Administration
Vaibhav Gehlot is the incumbent president and Mahendra Sharma is the secretary of Rajasthan Cricket Association. Various district cricket associations of Rajasthan are affiliated to the RCA.

Future development
RCA do not have its own stadium like other most of the Indian state cricket boards have. It organize its domestic and international cricket matches at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, it is owned by the government of Rajasthan. The Rajasthan Cricket Association laid the foundation stone for its own cricket stadium on February 5, 2022. The stadium is expected to be completed in three years and will be located near Jaipur-Delhi bypass Highway outside Jaipur in Chonp village, which is 25 kilometers away from Jaipur. The stadium will have two practice grounds that can be used for Ranji trophy matches. According to the RCA president Vaibhav Gahalot, this stadium will be the world’s third-largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 75,000. It will be the third largest cricket stadium in the world after Narendra Modi stadium and Melbourne Cricket Ground if compared by seating capacity. The estimated cost for the stadium is 300 cr. rupees.