Rohit Sharma Stand Unveiled at Wankhede: A Celebration of Cricketing Legacy

A Memorable Moment at Wankhede Stadium

A delightful incident from the unveiling of the Rohit Sharma Stand at Wankhede Stadium has captured the attention of cricket fans, featuring former Indian coach Ravi Shastri.

During the celebratory event held on Friday, Shastri humorously encouraged Rohit to commemorate the occasion by hitting a six into the newly named stand.

In a light-hearted exchange, Shastri embraced the former Mumbai Indians captain, urging him to 'Smack one there.'

Rohit responded promptly, saying, 'It will happen,' adding a joyful touch to what was already a significant and emotional day for the ODI captain.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) honored Rohit by renaming the Level 3 Divecha Pavilion as the 'Rohit Sharma Stand,' recognizing his illustrious career. He joins an elite group of cricketers, becoming the fifth player to have a stand named after him at Wankhede, alongside legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

The event was attended by Rohit's family, including his parents, wife Ritika Sajdeh, and brother Vishal, along with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and several cricketing icons.

Shastri's Thoughts on Rohit's Test Retirement

Earlier that day, Shastri also shared his views on Rohit Sharma's recent retirement from Test cricket and the contentious choice to withdraw from the final Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

In a discussion with the ICC, the former coach expressed his disagreement with Rohit's decision to step back during an ongoing series.

“I told him, if I were the coach, you would have never not played that last Test. You don’t leave the team at 2-1 with the series still alive. That Sydney pitch was spicy, and Rohit’s the kind of player who could’ve turned it around with even 35-40 runs at the top,” Shastri remarked.

While Rohit has retired from T20Is following India's World Cup victory in 2024, he continues to participate in ODIs. He is set to return to action for the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium on May 21, facing the Delhi Capitals.