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Wankhede Stand Named After Ravi Shastri, Gates Honour Mumbai Legends

The Mumbai Cricket Association has named a stand at Wankhede Stadium after former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri. Three stadium gates were also dedicated to legends Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar, and Diana Edulji. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis unveiled the honours at a ceremony attended by cricket dignitaries. Shastri expressed deep gratitude, calling Wankhede his "karmabhoomi" where his journey began.

Key Points: Ravi Shastri Stand Unveiled at Wankhede Stadium

  • Stand named after Ravi Shastri
  • Gates honour Sardesai, Solkar, Edulji
  • Ceremony led by CM Devendra Fadnavis
  • Recognition for Mumbai cricket legends
2 min read

Honoured and humbled to have a stand at my 'karmabhoomi' Wankhede: Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri honoured with a stand at Wankhede Stadium, with gates named for Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar, and Diana Edulji.

"Honoured and humbled - to have a stand at Wankhede, my karmabhoomi, is incredibly special. - Ravi Shastri"

New Delhi, April 10

Former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri expresses his deep gratitude after a stand at the iconic Wankhede Stadium named after him was unveiled, describing the venue as his "karmabhoomi" where his cricketing journey first took flight.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Thursday inscribed the names of cricketing stalwarts, Shastri, Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar, and Diana Edulji, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, recognising their contributions to Mumbai and Indian cricket.

The Level 1 stand below the press box is now named the Ravi Shastri Stand, honouring a prominent figure in Indian cricket. A member of India's 1983 World Cup-winning team, Shastri's contribution spans generations as a player, captain, coach and commentator.

"Honoured and humbled - to have a stand at Wankhede, my karmabhoomi, is incredibly special. This is where the journey began, and where I learned what it takes to compete, fight and never give an inch. I missed my father dearly, but I'm grateful my mother and family could be there to witness the moment," Shastri posted on X.

The honours were unveiled by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, as a stand was named after Ravi Shastri and stadium gates were dedicated to Dilip Sardesai, Eknath Solkar and Diana Edulji.

The ceremony was also attended by Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar, MCA President Ajinkya Naik, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, along with MCA Apex Council members, office-bearers, and members of the cricketing fraternity.

"My sincere thanks to Hon'ble CM Shri @Dev_Fadnavis, Shri @ShelarAshish, Shri @ajinkyasnaik, the MCA Apex Council & the entire MCA management for this great honour. Mumbai gave me everything, and this honour at Wankhede means more than words can express," he added.

Gate No. 3, Gate No. 6, and Gate No. 5 will now be named the Dilip Sardesai Gate, Eknath Solkar Gate, and Diana Edulji Gate, respectively, marking the contributions of three legends from Mumbai.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
So happy to see Diana Edulji being honoured alongside the legends! A true pioneer for women's cricket in India. The gate naming is a great step, but we need more visibility for our women cricketers.
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Vikram M
Karmabhoomi is the perfect word. Wankhede is sacred ground for any Mumbai cricketer. Shastri's journey from there to lifting the World Cup as coach is the stuff of dreams. Emotional moment for sure.
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Aman W
Respect to all the legends honoured. But a small thought - while naming stands after greats is wonderful, I hope the MCA also focuses on improving facilities for the thousands of young kids dreaming of playing there. The future needs support too.
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Sarah B
As a cricket fan living in Mumbai, this is lovely to see. The history in that stadium is incredible. Can't wait to visit and see the Ravi Shastri Stand in person during the next IPL match!
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Karthik V
Dilip Sardesai and Eknath Solkar - giants of an earlier era. Glad their contributions are being remembered. Their fighting spirit in the 1971 series win is legendary. This is how we keep our cricket history alive. 👍

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