A stand named after former India all-rounder Ravi Shastri was unveiled on the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday, because the Mumbai Cricket Affiliation additionally paid tribute to its different stalwarts, together with Diana Edulji, Eknath Solkar and Dilip Sardesai.
The ‘Shastri Stand’ was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by cricketing legends resembling Sunil Gavaskar and present India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav, alongside a distinguished gathering from the cricket fraternity.
Along with the stand, gates on the Wankhede had been named after former India captain Diana Edulji, former India all-rounder Eknath Solkar, and Dilip Sardesai, who performed 30 Checks and 179 first-class matches. These honors had been a part of the MCA’s effort to acknowledge the contributions of its distinguished gamers.
Shastri, who additionally served as India’s head coach, was visibly emotional throughout his speech. He acknowledged the presence of his household and expressed remorse over his late father’s absence. “My spouse is right here, my daughter is right here—she by no means noticed me taking part in. My sister is there, my nephew is there, everyone seems to be current. I’m glad. Just one disappointment—my father. He was my hero, and he isn’t current right here right this moment,” Shastri stated.
He recalled his father’s unwavering help, including, “He watched each recreation from the Garware Pavilion finish at the moment. However he’s upstairs—he might be proud that this has occurred.” Shastri additionally fondly talked about a memorable shot at Wankhede, saying, “There may be one shot of mine at this Wankhede Stadium—you have hit sixes galore over a span of years—however that one was towards Australia. I hit Bruce Reid on high of what’s now the Ravi Shastri Stand. That’s my favorite.”
Diana Edulji, a pioneer of girls’s cricket in India and a former BCCI administrator, was equally moved by the honour. “It’s a large honor for me and for all girls cricketers. It is a dream come true. It’s a red-letter day for me. I’ll always remember at the present time in my life,” she stated. Edulji performed 20 Checks and 34 One Day Internationals for India.
The households of Eknath Solkar and Dilip Sardesai, each deceased, had been additionally current to obtain the tributes on their behalf, including an emotional contact to the event. The occasion highlighted the MCA’s dedication to recognizing the legacy of its cricketing stalwarts.
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