Will be ‘special feeling’ to play at the Wankhede stadium with a stand in my name, says Rohit Sharma

India cricketer Rohit Sharma with his parents at an event to unveil a stand in his name at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Friday.
| Photo Credit: EMMANUAL YOGINI

Veteran India cricketer Rohit Sharma on Friday said it will be a surreal feeling to play at the Wankhede stadium here with a stand in his name.

“Something like this is really special. Wankhede is such an iconic stadium, there are so many memories here…” Rohit said while addressing a gathering after the stand in his name was unveiled. “I have retired from two formats but I am still playing one format. It will be a surreal feeling when I come here and play on the 21st (May) against the Delhi Capitals, representing Mumbai Indians. It will be a very special feeling.

“It will even be more special when India plays whichever team here, that will make it even more special.”

Besides Rohit, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) also unveiled a stand in memory of former India captain late Ajit Wadekar and one after veteran cricket administrator Sharad Pawar. Besides, an office enclosure in the memory of late Amol Kale, who passed away as MCA president last year, was also unveiled.

The function was attended by Rohit, Pawar, Wadekar’s family, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis along with MCA office-bearers. Besides, former India captains Dilip Vengsarkar and Ravi Shastri, former Mumbai captains Amol Muzumdar, Nilesh Kulkarni and Paras Mhambrey were also in attendance along with Rohit’s friends and family and members of the Mumbai Indians squad.

A stand in Rohit Sharma’s name was unveiled at the Wankhede stadium.
| Photo Credit:
EMMANUAL YOGINI

“To get this honour in front of my mom, dad, my brother and his wife and my wife. I am so so grateful for all the people in my life, for all that they have sacrificed. Of course, my team Mumbai Indians are here, who are waiting for my speech to get over so they can start training,” Rohit said.

While Wadekar’s wife, Rekha, thanked the MCA to have acknowledged Wadekar’s contribution “albeit a bit late”, Fadnavis in his address remarked it was “better late than never”.

Will help MCA build new stadium: CM

Chief Minister Fadnavis asked the MCA to come up with a proposal for a grand stadium on the outskirts of Mumbai. “If the MCA shares the proposal, the Maharashtra government will definitely try to provide land for the stadium. In four years, the MCA will celebrate its centenary. It will be great if the stadium comes up in these four years,” Fadnavis said.