Wankhede Stadium likely to have stand named after Rohit Sharma

The iconic Wankhede Stadium could have a stand named after India's ODI and Test skipper Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is in a tricky situation after several of its members have come up with various requests of naming stands and walking bridges around the Wankhede stadium after famous individuals.

The MCA has received requests and proposals from its club members to name stands or other places outside the stadium on its past presidents, Sharad Pawar, late Vilasrao Deshmukh, as well as late India captain Ajit Wadekar, late Eknath Solkar, late Dilip Sardesai, late Padmakar Shivalkar, former India captain Diana Edulji and current India captain Rohit.

“There have been suggestions from members, and the final decision will be taken by the general body members of the Mumbai Cricket Association,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik told The Indian Express.

In its Apex Council meeting, the association discussed having a stand named after Rohit, who captained India to victory in the T20 World Cup last year and the Champions Trophy last month. No other Mumbai player has achieved such a feat. He also led the Men in Blue in the World Test Championship final and the ODI World Cup final in 2023.

As things stand, MCA has one nameless Grand Stand available above its president’s box, which they can attribute inside the stadium. The East Stand is named on legendary former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, which is a common man’s stand. West Stand is in the name of Vijay Merchant, North has been named after Dilip Vengsarkar and the iconic Sachin Tendulkar. The media gallery has been named after late Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray. In 2022, MCA decided to have a life-size statue of Tendulkar inside the stadium. It was inaugurated on the eve of the ODI World Cup clash in November 2023 between India and Sri Lanka.

Now, with so many requests pouring in, the MCA is struggling to find suitable areas left to honour its cricketing stalwarts and administrators.

Meanwhile, the Wankhede Stadium has hosted two games so far in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Home side Mumbai Indians defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets in the first game but suffered a deflating 12-run loss versus Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Monday. Rohit, who hasn't had the best of starts in IPL 2025 with the bat, has scored 30 runs from the two innings at the Wankhede Stadium at a strike rate of 142.86. The 37-year-old is chasing a record seventh IPL title.