Rohit Sharma, who rarely shows his emotions, be it on the field or off it, is overwhelmed by the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) gesture of honoring a stand after him. The team India skipper, along with Sharad Pawar and the late Ajit Wadekar, was recently added to an illustrious list of Mumbai cricketers to get a stand named after him. MCA approved Rohit's name on account of him winning two ICC trophies for India as a captain -the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025 event.
"Now, to sit back and think that there is going to be a stadium stand in my game, it is such an unreal feeling. It is something that I have never thought of and I will be forever grateful for this big honor in my life," the India opener said while unveiling the third edition of T20 Mumbai, an IPL-style franchise-based league of the MCA.
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In the recently held general body meeting, the association took a unanimous decision to name the Level 3 stand of Divecha Pavilion at the iconic Wankhede after the India skipper.
"When you start playing the game, you don't know how long you are going to play the game for; let alone all these milestones and achievements that you achieve while playing the game. But to get this kind of honor, having a stand named after you, is something that I cannot imagine. But once I see my name there on the stand, it will be a very emotional moment for me, and like I said, from not having to enter the stadium and now to have a stand, those two moments, so much has happened between these two moments so I am forever grateful," Rohit said.
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Rohit Sharma reminisces about his early journey at the Wankhede Stadium
Rohit Sharma also remembered his early struggles, sacrifices by his parents and grandparents, and watching Ranji matches as a kid at the Wankhede Stadium. For the unversed, the veteran batter was touted as the next big thing in cricket. However, the right-hand batter could not live up to the early expectations and hype. Later, when Rohit was promoted as an opener in the CT 2013 event, he turned a corner, and the rest is history.
"No one dreams of things like this when they are just starting off playing cricket. I still remember those days when I used to stand outside (the) Wankhede Stadium just to enter and watch the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team practice; I am talking about 2004 or maybe 2003.
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"We used to finish our U-14 and U-16 training at Azad Maidan. Me, with a few of my friends, we used to travel across the railway track to go and just get a glimpse of some of the Ranji Trophy cricketers. I know how tough it was to get inside the Wankhede Stadium back then. Even now, obviously, no random (people) will be allowed inside the stadium. But those were the days. I am just trying to remember now."
