A stand named after former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri was unveiled at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday as the Mumbai Cricket Association also paid tribute to its other stalwarts, including Diana Edulji, Eknath Solkar and Dilip Sardesai.
The ‘Shastri Stand’ was inaugurated in the presence of cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar and current India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav along with a distinguished gathering from the cricketing fraternity.
Apart from the stand, the wickets at Wankhede have been named after former India captain Diana Edulja, former India all-rounder Eknath Solkar and Dilip Sardesai, who played 30 Tests and 179 first-class matches. These awards were part of MCA’s efforts to recognize the contributions of its outstanding players.
Shastri, who also served as India’s head coach, was visibly emotional during his speech. He acknowledged the presence of his family and expressed regret for the absence of his late father. “My wife is here, my daughter is here – she has never seen me play. My sister is there, my nephew is there, everyone is present. I am happy. Only one disappointment – my father. He was my hero and he is not here today,” said Shastri.
He recalled his father’s unwavering support, adding: “In those days he watched the end of every game from Garware Pavilion. But he’s up there – he’ll be proud it happened.” Shastri also fondly referred to a memorable shot at the Wankhede, saying: “One of my shots at this Wankhede stadium – you’ve hit a lot of sixes over the years – but that was against Australia. I hit Bruce Reid on top of what is now the Ravi Shastri Stand. That’s my favourite.”
Diana Edulji, a pioneer of women’s cricket in India and a former BCCI administrator, was similarly moved by the honour. “It’s a great honor for me and all women cricketers. It’s a dream come true. It’s a red-letter day for me. I’ll never forget this day in my life,” she said. Edulji played 20 Tests and 34 One Day Internationals for India.
The families of Eknath Solkar and Dilip Sardesai, both deceased, were also present to receive the honors on their behalf, adding an emotional touch to the occasion. The event highlighted MCA’s commitment to recognize the legacy of its cricketing stalwarts.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
09 Apr 2026 22:04 IST
