The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) commenced its 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Wankhede Stadium by honouring several Mumbai cricketing legends. The initial event took place on Sunday, with the main celebration scheduled for January 19th at the stadium itself.
Among the celebrated figures were iconic batter Sunil Gavaskar and former player Vinod Kambli. MCA President Ajinkya Naik presented Gavaskar with a memento.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"It is indeed a very big honour for me to be here at this iconic venue that has given Indian cricket so much, the 2011 Cricket World Cup being the icing on the cake. And to be part of the start of the celebrations of 50 years of Wankhede Stadium," Gavaskar said.
"As an opening batter, I couldn't miss the start so I am here. I want to wish the MCA all the best and also want to express my deepest sense of gratitude for giving me opportunities since school cricket.
"I am what I am because MCA lifted me and helped me to take those steps and subsequently supported me even when I was playing for India...I want to thank you all for having me here."
Former India batter Vinod Kambli, recently released from the hospital after a period in the ICU, was also honoured. He was accompanied and assisted due to his ongoing recovery.
"I remember I smashed my first double hundred here against England and then went onto score many more hundreds in my career," he said.
Kambli reminisced about his cricketing achievements at Wankhede Stadium, including his first double century.
"If anyone wants to play for India like me or Sachin (Tendulkar), then I would advise that you should keep working hard and never leave doing that because that's what Sachin and me did since our childhood days."
Former India opening batter Wasim Jaffer and former MCA President Vijay Patil were also present at the event and acknowledged. Patil was also felicitated.
The main celebration on January 19th will feature other notable figures in Indian cricket. These include Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Dilip Vengsarkar, Ravi Shastri, Ajinkya Rahane, Suryakumar Yadav, and Diana Edulji.
The event will honour both male and female Mumbai cricketers who have represented the city at the domestic and international levels.
A coffee table book commemorating the stadium's history will be launched on January 19th, alongside the issuance of a commemorative postal stamp.
The MCA will also recognize the groundsmen and the members of the Mumbai team who participated in the first first-class match at Wankhede Stadium in 1974.
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