Ravi Shastri is going back to Wankhede Stadium, and this time in concrete and steel. The Mumbai Cricket Association has approved the naming of the Level 1 stand below the Press Box at the North End of the Wankhede Stadium after the former India captain and head coach. The decision was taken at the MCA Apex Council meeting on Friday (Feb 27), adding Shastri’s name to a venue that has long celebrated Mumbai’s cricketing royalty.
Shastri was one of the earliest big names from Mumbai cricket. A product of the city’s domestic circuit, he went on to play 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India. Later, as head coach from 2017 to 2021, he oversaw one of India’s strongest overseas phases, including the historic Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, followed by another in 2020-21. India also reached the 2019 ODI World Cup semi-final during his tenure.
“Mumbai cricket is built on the foundation laid by our stalwarts,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik said. “It is our responsibility to honour those who have brought pride to the city and the nation. The proposal to name Level 1 Stand below the press box after Ravi Shastri is a tribute to his immense contribution as a player, leader and coach.”
Three entry gates have also been renamed, with Gate No. 3 after Dilip Sardesai, Gate No. 6 after Eknath Solkar, and Gate No. 5 after Diana Edulji. Sardesai’s 642 runs in the historic 1971 West Indies tour helped India script their first Test series win in the Caribbean. Solkar remains synonymous with fearless close-in catching, particularly at short leg. Edulji, a pioneer of women’s cricket, captained India in 22 internationals and played a key role in shaping the women’s game.
Wankhede Stadium: Stands and Gates
| Stand Name | Location / Notes |
|---|---|
| Sachin Tendulkar Stand | Largest enclosure; nearly one-third of total capacity |
| Sunil Gavaskar Stand | East Stand; sun-facing |
| Ravi Shastri Stand | Level 1 below Press Box, North End |
| Rohit Sharma Stand | Level 3, Vithal Divecha Pavilion |
| Vijay Merchant Stand | West Stand; opposite Gavaskar Stand |
| Dilip Vengsarkar Stand | Sections of North Stand |
| Ajit Wadekar Stand | Level 4, Grand Stand |
| Gate No. | Named After |
|---|---|
| Main Gates | Vinoo Mankad & Polly Umrigar |
| Gate 3 | Dilip Sardesai |
| Gate 5 | Diana Edulji |
| Gate 6 | Eknath Solkar |
