The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, a venue etched in the history of Indian cricket, celebrated its golden jubilee with a grand event organized by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Sunday.
The evening saw a star-studded gathering of cricketing legends, including India’s captain Rohit Sharmawho shared his heartfelt dreams and aspirations for the stadium and Indian cricket’s future.
Rohit Sharma’s dream: Bringing the World Cup to Wankhede
The Wankhede Stadium, synonymous with some of cricket’s most unforgettable moments, has witnessed legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkarand now Rohit creating history. For Rohit, the stadium holds a deep emotional connection, having grown up playing cricket in its confines.
During the event, Rohit shared his long-cherished dream of bringing the World Cup trophy to Wankhede, a sentiment rooted in the triumphs of the past. He recalled his dream of bringing the T20 World Cup to Wankhede, inspired by the 2007 victory in South Africa.
Reflecting on the 2024 T20I World Cup win, he mentioned being stranded in Barbados for three days due to a storm and tornado during which India team discussed their plans for returning to India and what to do next when they will land back to home.
“In 2007, when we came back after winning the T20I World Cup in South Africa, I had a small dream of bringing the World Cup here once. When we won the World Cup, I remember we were in Barbados. We were stuck there for three days due to a storm and tornado. We were planning what to do when we go back to India,” Rohit said at the event.
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Celebrating past triumphs and eyeing future glory
Rohit further revealed that the team planned to visit Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi but were unsure of what would follow. He expressed his desire to bring the 2024 World Cup to Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, as previous World Cup celebrations in 2007 and 2011 were also held there, making it significant to continue the tradition.
“The plan to go to Delhi was decided, but what after that? Nobody knew anything. I wanted the World Cup to come to Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. We won three World Cups recently. When we won in 2007 and 2011, the celebration was held at Wankhede. It was important to bring 2024 as well over here,” he added.
Eyes set on the Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit also spoke about the upcoming Champions Trophy in 2025 set to be held in a hybrid format in Pakistan and the UAE from February 19 to March 9. He expressed confidence in the support of 140 crore Indians and pledged to give their best to bring the Champions Trophy to Wankhede Stadium.
“We will try our best… I am 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 Indian team captain concluded.
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