Former Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi has urged the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to honor former India all-rounder and head coach Ravi Shastri by naming a part of the Wankhede Stadium after him. In May, the MCA unveiled stands named after cricket stalwarts such as Rohit Sharma, Ajit Wadekar, and Sharad Pawar. Despite Shastri's considerable contribution to Indian cricket, Hattangadi was surprised to learn that there wasn't a single mention of his name.

Hattangadi took the initiative to write directly to the MCA, urging the body to reconsider. He stressed that Shastri's impact was much greater than numbers or averages; it was the culture of modern Indian cricket and their success. Such recognition at Wankhede would, in Hattangadi’s view, preserve Mumbai’s rich cricketing legacy and inspire future generations.

Urging MCA to Reconsider the Oversight

“I must express my surprise and concern at the omission of Ravi Shastri, former India captain, all-rounder, and national coach, from the list of names commemorated at the stadium. His legacy is well known—not just the iconic feat of hitting six sixes in an over in a first-class game, following in the footsteps of Sir Gary Sobers, but also for his impactful career as a player and his significant role in shaping modern Indian cricket as a coach,” Hattangadi wrote to MCA President Ajinkya Naik, as per The Times of India.

“This omission, intentional or not, overlooks a major chapter in Mumbai and Indian cricket’s story. I do not wish to delve into statistics, as Shastri’s legacy is not just in numbers but in the influence he has had on the game—both on and off the field,” he added.

Hattangadi also called for a re-examination of the oversight in not naming anything after Shastri at the iconic Mumbai venue while emphasizing his tremendous impact on Indian and Mumbai cricket requires such recognition.

“As someone who deeply respects the administration and its role in preserving the sport’s heritage, I urge the MCA to re-examine this oversight. A richer understanding of cricket’s history and the personalities that shaped it will only strengthen our future,” Hattangadi wrote.

Hattangadi concluded, “As someone who deeply respects the administration and its role in preserving the sport’s heritage, I urge the MCA to re-examine this oversight... This is an observation and not a political statement.”

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Ravi Shastri appeared in 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for 6,938 runs and 280 wickets. He was a part of India's victorious World Cup side in 1983 and was the Player of the Tournament at the 1985 World Championship. He also became one of two men to join Sir Garry Sobers in hitting six sixes in an over during a Ranji Trophy match. 

In his capacity as coach, he oversaw historic Test series wins in Australia (2018-19 and 2020-21) and also led a team to the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup. His ambassadorship as a focal figure of Indian cricket remains in the foreground of sport both on and off the field.