Virat Kohli was part of a special and emotional evening at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday when the iconic venue in Bengaluru honored two of India’s greatest cricketers, Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble, by naming ends after them.
The Rahul Dravid End and Anil Kumble End were officially unveiled at a ceremony attended by their family members, former teammates and Karnataka State Cricket Association officials. Kohli, who has developed a strong bond with Chinnaswamy over the years as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s talisman, was present at the venue and added a modern connection to the heritage-rooted event.
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The unveiling ceremony was overseen by KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad, a long-time teammate of both Dravid and Kumble, along with vice-president Sujith Somasundar. The decision to honor the two legends was first announced on February 14, in recognition of their immense contribution to Indian and Karnataka cricket.
The former BEML end of the stadium has now been renamed after Dravid, who scored 24,177 international runs and is widely regarded as one of India’s best batsmen. The pavilion end was named after Kumble, who finished with 956 international wickets and remains one of the country’s greatest match-winners.
At the event, Dravid described Chinnaswamy as a “second home” and reflected on the countless hours he spent at the ground during his career. He thanked the KSCA for the honor and said it was a moment that meant a lot to him and his family.
Dravid’s mother Pushpa and brother Vijay were present at the ceremony, while Kumble attended with his wife Chetana and their children. The evening struck a balance between celebration and emotion as the achievements of two legends were honored at a venue that played a key role in shaping their paths.
With Kohli in attendance, the moment also served as a reminder of the strong legacy of Indian cricket, connecting the greats of the past with the current generation.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
05 Apr 2026 21:11 IST
