The Wankhede Stadium, an iconic venue in Indian cricket, hosted a poignant tribute on May 16 as the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) dedicated the ‘Rohit Sharma Stand’ to the Indian ODI captain.
The ceremony saw at the Divecha Pavilion Level 3 stand now named after Rohit, celebrating his remarkable contributions to Indian cricket. He led India in the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy triumphs.
The event highlighted the Mumbai-born star’s deep ties to the stadium, where he honed his craft and became a global cricketing icon.
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Rohit Sharma Stand Unveiled at Wankhede Stadium in Heartfelt Ceremony
In a moving highlight of the event, Rohit Sharma’s parents, Mrs. Purnima and Mr. Gurunath Sharma, pressed the button to officially inaugurate the stand, a moment made special by their rare presence at his cricketing milestones due to their nervousness during matches.
Rohit, alongside his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, watched the ceremony unfold that included two large posters of the captain, colorful smoke displays and a burst of fireworks, adding a heartwarming touch to the occasion.
The MCA’s initiative to honor legends also saw stands named after former India captain Ajit Wadekar and ex-BCCI president Sharad Pawar on the same day.
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Rohit Sharma Expresses Gratitude
Rohit, who recently retired from Test cricket, has long been a symbol of Mumbai’s cricketing pride. He expressed profound gratitude, saying,
"Firstly I would like to thank everyone who has come here to make this event so special. What is going to happen today, I never dreamt of it. As a kid growing up, wanting to play for Mumbai, for India, no one thinks about things like these. For me, it’s like any other sportsman who wants to give their best. Serve the nation, the country as much as possible. While doing that you try and achieve a lot of things, A lot of milestones are created but something like this is really special. Wankhede is such an iconic stadium, there are so many memories here."
He talked about playing at the Wankhede Stadium on May 21 for Mumbai Indians (MI) versus Delhi Capitals (DC) under the stand bearing his name.
"For me to have my name amongst the greats of the game and the world’s top political leaders, I cannot express what the feelings are. For that I am really really grateful, honoured and very thankful to all MCA members and not to forget the Apex Council Member. For me to be honored, while I am playing makes it special. I have retired from two formats but I am still playing one format. It’ll be a surreal feeling when I come here and play on the 21st against the Delhi Capitals, representing Mumbai Indians. It’ll be a very special feeling," he added.
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