MUMBAI: At a time when the fans are despondent thanks to India’s back-to-back series defeats home and away to New Zealand and Australia, India’s Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma has offered hope amidst the gloom.
Speaking at a glittering function hosted by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Sunday evening at the Wankhede Stadium to celebrate 50 years of the iconic venue in Mumbai on Sunday, Rohit expressed his desire to bring the Champions Trophy back to the Wankhede Stadium, while referring to the celebrations at the stadium after India clinched the 2011 ODI World Cup and the T20 World Cups in 2007 and 2024.
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Sharing his aspirations for the global tournament, the 37-year-old said, “We will try our best… I’m sure that the wishes of 140 crore Indians will be behind us when we land in Dubai for the Champions Trophy. We will try to do well and bring the Champions Trophy 2025 to the Wankhede Stadium.”
The 2025 Champions Trophy will begin from Feb 19 in Pakistan and UAE.
On the occasion, the MCA felicitated all the surviving Mumbai players who went on to captain India-Sunil Gavaskar, Diana Eduilji (women’s), Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit and Ajinkya Rahane.
Recalling the celebrations at the Wankhede Stadium, which included an open-top bus parade at the Marine Drive here after India won the T20 World Cup in the West Indies & USA under his captaincy last year, Rohit said, “We were locked inside the hotel in Barbados (due to a hurricane). But winning the World Cup and celebrating it with your people is a different thing. You celebrate anyway with your players and teams but celebrating it with your people is a different feeling and I knew that will happen only once we are back in Mumbai.”
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Rohit revealed that he wanted the T20 World Cup trophy celebrations to take place only at the Wankhede Stadium. “I remember, we were still in Barbados after winning the (T20) World Cup and we were stuck there due to a storm but planning was in process as to what we will do once we are back in India. It was planned that we would go to (New) Delhi but what after that?
“No one knew what to do after that, but I wanted that World Cup (trophy) should come here at Wankhede. Each of the World Cups which we have won in 2007 and 2011 have been celebrated at Wankhede and bringing it (the trophy) of 2024 was also very important for us. When we celebrated here (last year), the stands were full, (and) even today they are full, which is special about Wankhede,” he gushed.
It’s clear that the enthusiastic Wankhede crowd, which makes for an electric atmosphere, has a special place in Rohit’s heart. “It was my dream to play cricket here at Wankhede since I was a kid. Irrespective of who plays here, India, Mumbai or Mumbai Indians, the crowd never disappoints and that’s why it’s a different feeling when you play here. When we returned from South Africa after winning the (T20) World Cup, I dreamt about winning another World Cup and bringing it here,” he said.
Explaining why this stadium means so much to him, Rohit said, “Wankhede is one ground where every cricketer enjoys making dreams of playing here and seeing them come to reality. It is good to dream and to see them come to reality and I have watched and played cricket since my childhood because the atmosphere at this ground is very different. Every cricketer loves to come here and play cricket so that is the feeling you get at Wankhede.”
Gavaskar recalls ‘love at first sight’ with Wankhede
Turning emotional as the MCA celebrated his 75th birthday on the special occasion, Gavaskar said, “When the Wankhede Stadium was built in 1974, our dressing room was downstairs. When we stepped into the ground for the first time for a practice session, it was love at first sight. Prior to that, we were playing at the Brabourne Stadium, which belonged to a club (Cricket Club of India). But coming here, it felt like the home ground of Mumbai cricket. The feeling is always different when you have a home ground. I still get that feeling whenever I come for commentary. My chest swells with pride.”
Responding to his thoughts on the famous picture on being carried on his shoulders by his teammates after India triumphed in the 2011 World Cup, Tendulkar said, “It was without any doubt the best moment of my life. (Referring to Gavaskar), their 1983 victory inspired me that even I should have a trophy in my hand. We came close to winning the World Cup in 1996 in India and in South Africa in 2003. However, we crossed the final at the Wankhede Stadium at my home ground. Till that point, no host nation had won the World Cup.”
The MCA also felicitated veteran cricket coach Vilas Godbole, who is the only living member of the 1972-73 managing committee, when the Wankhede Stadium was being built, and Shashi Prabhu, the architect of the cricket venue.
