Indian captain Rohit Sharma might soon get a stand named after him at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium. Yes, you read it right. According to a report by The Express Sports, ‘Hitman,’ who is one of Mumbai’s very own crown jewels, could soon join cricketing legends with a Rohit Sharma Stand, right in the heart of the stadium where he has played so many unforgettable innings.
This touching proposal was discussed at the recent Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) Apex Council meeting. MCA has done more than just putting names on walls, and it has been preserving history. This recent gesture is a tribute to Captain Rohit, who has left a lasting mark on Indian cricket and contributed immensely to the growth of the sport through the association.
According to a report by The Indian Express, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has been flooded with proposals to name stands and various spots in the stadium after legendary players and former presidents. Big names like the late Vilasrao Deshmukh and Sharad Pawar have been in the mix. But now, India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain, Rohit Sharma, has also been shortlisted.
From Borivali to Wankhede: The Rohit Sharma Stand
The East Stand at Wankhede is named after Sunil Gavaskar, the original Little Master who inspired generations. The West Stand honours Vijay Merchant, another Mumbai legend and early star of Indian cricket.
Look toward the North Stand, and you will find the names of Sachin Tendulkar and Dilip Vengsarkar, two of the most stylish and successful batters from Mumbai. Above the press area, the media gallery is named after Bal Thackeray, a major political figure who supported sports in the city.
Now, there’s one key section left, which is the Grand Stand, right above the president’s box. It doesn’t have a name yet, but it could soon be named after Rohit Sharma.
Rohit Sharma made his international debut for India in 2007. He first appeared in a T20I against England during the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa and made his ODI debut later that same year. In the early years, Rohit was slotted in the middle order and showed flashes of brilliance but was inconsistent.
Well, the turning point of his cricketing venture came in 2013, when MS Dhoni promoted him to open the innings during the Champions Trophy. That move completely changed the trajectory of his career, and there was no turning back since then.
The boy from Borivali who dreamed big, worked hard, and touched the pinnacle of success by letting his performances do all the talking. He grabbed the headlines time and again, courtesy of his jaw-dropping stats. It is worth noting that he is the only cricketer in the history of the sport to have hit three ODI double centuries.
WATCH VIDEO: Kavya Maran’s animated reaction as Abhishek Sharma loses his wicket cheaply against GT
Hitman also went on to break Sri Lankan batting great Kumar Sangakkara’s record of four tons in a single edition of an ODI World Cup by becoming the first and only player (to date) to hit five centuries in a single edition of the World Cup (2019).
