Unreal feeling to have a stand named after myself at Wankhede Stadium, says Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma at a press conference to announce the T20 Mumbai League in Mumbai on Friday.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Rohit Sharma has referred to the recent announcement of a stand being named after him at the Wankhede Stadium – alma mater of Mumbai cricket for half a century – as an ‘unreal feeling’ and it will be an ‘emotional moment’ for him when the plaque will be unveiled.

“To sit back and think that there is going to be a stadium stand in my name, it is such an unreal feeling. It is something that I have never thought of and I will be forever grateful for this big honour in my life,” Rohit said here on Friday after being unveiled as the brand ambassador of T20 Mumbai League’s third edition, starting May 26.

“When you start playing the game, you don’t know how long you are going to play the game for; let alone all these milestones and achievements that you achieve while playing the game. But to get this kind of honour, having a stand named after you, is something that I cannot imagine. But once I see my name there on the stand, it will be a very emotional moment for me. From not having to enter the stadium and now to having a stand, those two moments, so much has happened between these two moments, so I am forever grateful.”

Rohit narrated his childhood struggle as a budding maidan cricketer to enter the Wankhede Stadium.

“No one dreams of things like this when they are just starting off, playing cricket. I still remember those days when I used to stand outside (the) Wankhede Stadium just to enter and watch the Mumbai Ranji Trophy team practice; I am talking about 2004 or maybe 2003,” Rohit said.

“We used to finish our U-14, U-16 training at Azad Maidan. Me, with a few of my friends, we used to travel across the railway track to go and just get a glimpse of some of the Ranji Trophy cricketers. I know how tough it was to get inside the Wankhede Stadium back then. Even now, obviously, no random (people) will be allowed inside the stadium. But those were the days. I am just trying to remember now.

“And then I played my first game at Wankhede. It was such a big honour because we only watched international games being played at Wankhede. And now to go there and experience the stadium, watch some of these greats taking the field and playing there was another different experience for me. Since then, there have been so many memories playing at the stadium.”