Former India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri has been honoured with a stand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai named after him, a recognition that he calls an “honoured and humbled” milestone in his long association with the venue. The “Ravi Shastri Stand” was unveiled amid a small ceremony at the stadium, marking a full‑circle moment for the all‑rounder, who grew up in the shadow of the Wankhede and often credits the iconic ground as his cricketing home.
“Honoured and humbled” and the Mumbai connection
Shastri has described the gesture as deeply personal, saying he never imagined a day when his name would be permanently attached to one of Indian cricket’s most famous arenas. He has repeatedly spoken about how the stadium shaped his understanding of competitive cricket, watching and later playing many of his most memorable matches there, including Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy feats and India’s home internationals.
He has also invoked the “khadoos” culture of Mumbai cricket the city’s tough, no‑nonsense, never‑saying‑die attitude recalling that “we didn’t like losing” and that the local ethos of resistance and resilience became central to how he played and later coached the national team. For him, having a stand named after himself at Wankhede is less about ego and more about being recognised as part of that legacy.
Emotional moment with his mother
A particularly poignant moment in the ceremony came when his 90‑year‑old mother, Lakshmi, walked with him into the stand, an emotional gesture that commentators described as a “full‑circle” moment both for the family and for Mumbai cricket. The images of Shastri escorting her through the stands, with spectators applauding, underscored how the stadium has become a shared emotional space that connects players, their families, and the fans across generations.
Officials at the stadium and the Mumbai Cricket Association have framed the naming as a tribute not only to his long playing and coaching career, but also to his role in mentoring several generations of Indian cricketers. The stand now stands as a reminder of the “OG” Shastri an aggressive top‑order bat, a sharp‑tongued commentator, and a successful coach whose journey from Mumbai local cricket to the top of Indian cricket policy is now literally etched into the walls of the Wankhede.
–Samuthiran
