It's official! Rohit Sharma, India's captain for Test and ODI formats, will have a stand named in his honor at Wankhede Stadium. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) confirmed this decision during their Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Tuesday night. In addition to Rohit, the late Ajit Wadekar, who captained India, will also be commemorated with a stand at the Wankhede.

Former BCCI and MCA president Sharad Pawar will also have a stand dedicated to him at the stadium.

MCA President Ajinkya Naik expressed, “These stands and this lounge will forever reflect the legacy of those who contributed to Mumbai’s cricketing spirit — brick by brick, run by run.”

Previously, veteran administrator Ratnakar Shetty had called on the MCA to honor Ajit Wadekar, who led India to Test series victories in West Indies and England back in 1971.

The Grand Stand Level 3 will be named after Sharad Pawar, while the late Ajit Wadekar will have Grand Stand Level 4 dedicated to him. Rohit Sharma will be honored with Divecha Pavilion Level 3.

Additionally, the match day office at the MCA Pavilion will now be referred to as the MCA Office Lounge in memory of former MCA President Amol Kale.

Under Rohit Sharma's captaincy, India ended their ICC title drought in 2024 by clinching the T20 World Cup, marking their first ICC title in 11 years. Just eight months later, in February 2025, Rohit guided India to victory in the Champions Trophy.

India also made it to the finals of the Men's ODI World Cup in 2023 but fell short against Australia in the final match. Notably, no cricketer from Mumbai has ever led India to victories in both the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy.

Rohit Sharma has been a representative of Mumbai in domestic cricket since the start of his career. Earlier this year, he played for the state in a Ranji Trophy match against Jammu and Kashmir.

Earlier this year, Rohit faced significant pressure due to his disappointing performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. His struggles in the longest format led him to withdraw from the last Test in Sydney.

However, Rohit turned things around in the white-ball format, first leading India to a series win against England in ODIs and then securing the Champions Trophy. Throughout the eight-team tournament, the 37-year-old showcased outstanding leadership, guiding India to an unbeaten run.

What other choices did MCA make?

At the AGM, it was agreed to boost the fund for affiliated clubs to INR 75 crore, with plans to raise it to INR 100 crore in the future. This initiative is designed to enhance grassroots infrastructure and promote the long-term development of cricket in Mumbai.

"The decisions made today show our profound respect for the foundations of Mumbai cricket and our commitment to creating a stronger future," said the MCA President.

For those who may not know, any naming of stands at Wankhede Stadium requires approval from the AGM.

The East Stand honors former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, while the West Stand is named after Vijay Merchant. The North Stand pays tribute to both Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar.

In 2022, the MCA also decided to install a life-size statue of Sachin Tendulkar within the Wankhede Stadium.

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