India’s current cricket captain, Rohit Sharma, may soon join the rare list of active cricketers with a stadium stand named in their honour. At present, only Virat Kohli has received such recognition among active players, with a stand at the Arun Jaitley Stadium named after him in 2019.
According to a report by the Indian Express, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has received several suggestions from its members to name stands and walkways at the Wankhede Stadium after notable personalities from Mumbai’s cricket history. Rohit’s name is among those proposed, and it will be discussed during the MCA’s Apex Council meeting on April 15.
The MCA President, Ajinkya Naik, stated that while there are many suggestions, the final decision will be made by the association’s general body. The report also mentions that Rohit has led India to two major ICC titles — the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025 — a unique achievement among Mumbai-based Indian captains.
Other Contenders for Wankhede Honour
While Rohit Sharma is a strong contender, the MCA is also considering several other cricketing legends and influential figures. These include former India captain Ajit Wadekar, ex-India women’s captain Diana Edulji, late cricketers like Eknath Solkar, Dilip Sardesai, Padmakar Shivalkar, and former MCA presidents like Sharad Pawar and Vilasrao Deshmukh.
The Grand Stand located above the president’s box is currently without a name and is seen as a prime spot for dedication. The Wankhede Stadium already honours other icons, with the East Stand named after Sunil Gavaskar, West Stand after Vijay Merchant, North Stand after both Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar, and the media gallery dedicated to the late Bal Thackeray. In 2022, the MCA also installed a life-size statue of Tendulkar inside the stadium.
Demand to Honour Ajit Wadekar
Former BCCI and MCA official Ratnakar Shetty has renewed the call to name a stand after the late Ajit Wadekar. Though the MCA once planned to name a lounge after him, the idea was rejected by Wadekar’s family, who preferred a stand in his memory.
Shetty emphasized Wadekar’s major contributions, not only as India’s Test captain and a successful Ranji Trophy leader but also for his administrative service in Mumbai cricket. He pointed out that the Grand Stand would be the perfect place for such a tribute and urged the MCA to revisit the issue, which has remained unresolved for the past four years.
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