Sunil Gavaskar and Other Mumbai Captains Felicitated as MCA Celebrates Wankhede Stadium’s 50th Anniversary

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has commenced a week-long celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of the iconic Wankhede Stadium. A grand felicitation ceremony was held to honor former captains of Mumbai’s men’s and women’s cricket teams, with legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar among the luminaries in attendance. Gavaskar, a member of the Indian team that played the inaugural Test at the Wankhede Stadium against the West Indies in 1974, expressed his gratitude and fond memories of the venue.

A Historic Evening

During the ceremony, Gavaskar shared his emotions about returning to the historic stadium. “It is so good to be back at this iconic venue, a venue that has given Indian cricket such great moments. Today is the start of the 50th anniversary celebration week of the iconic Wankhede Stadium and as an opening batter, I could not miss the start. I extend my heartfelt wishes to the MCA and express my profound gratitude for the opportunities they provided me from my school days. I owe my success to the support and encouragement I received from the MCA,” he said.

The event was graced by prominent MCA officials, including President Ajinkya Naik, Vice President Sanjay Naik, Secretary Abhay Hadap, Treasurer Arman Mallick, Joint Secretary Deepak Patil, and former President Vijay Patil. Cricket stalwarts like Sanjay Manjrekar, Wasim Jaffer, Raju Kulkarni, Chandrakant Pandit, Lalchand Rajput, Shobha Pandit, and Arundhati Ghosh also attended the ceremony, reflecting the rich legacy of Mumbai cricket. The Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai (SJAM) was also felicitated for its invaluable contributions to the sport.

Exciting Matches Add to the Festivities

As part of the celebrations, two cricket matches were organized featuring teams from the Mumbai Cricket Association, Sports Journalists Association of Mumbai, Consul Generals, and IAS Officers. In a closely contested game, MCA defeated SJAM by five runs. The IAS Officers team emerged victorious against the Consul Generals team, securing a 20-run win.

Inspiring the Next Generation

MCA President Ajinkya Naik highlighted the significance of the event in his address. “Wankhede Stadium’s 50th anniversary is a special occasion for us. Today was the start of the grand celebration, and our main goal behind this week-long event is to inform the next generation about Mumbai’s cricket history and the contributions of men’s and women’s players who played for Mumbai. We hope to inspire the young generation to carry forward this legacy,” he said.

Upcoming Celebrations

The festivities will continue throughout the week. On January 15, MCA will honor groundsmen from MCA’s clubs and organize the Polly Umrigar Health Camp and a special lunch for them. Additionally, members of the Mumbai team that played the first first-class match at the Wankhede Stadium in 1974 will be felicitated.

The celebrations will culminate in a grand show on January 19, 2025. Tickets for the event, starting at ₹300, are available on District by Zomato and Insider.in. Cricket enthusiasts have the opportunity to be part of this historic celebration and enjoy an evening of nostalgia and excitement.