MCA gesture of Wankhede stand naming overwhelms Rohit Sharma after latest announcement issued by the state board.
MCA announced that the Level 3 stand of the Divecha Pavilion at the Wankhede will be named after Rohit.
“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 honour in my life,” the India captain said while unveiling the third edition of T20 Mumbai, an IPL-style franchise-based league of the MCA.
“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 honour, 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.
“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 Mumbai Ranji Trophy team practice; I am talking about 2004 or maybe 2003.
“We used to finish our U-14, 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.
One day following the May 25 IPL final, the T20 Mumbai League is scheduled to start on May 26. Through the first week of June, the eight-team competition, which consists of 20 matches, will take place. International players who will play as icons include Prithvi Shaw, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Dube, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ajinkya Rahane. The league has appointed Rohit Sharma as its brand ambassador.