The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is set to honor India captain Rohit Sharma by naming a stand after him at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on May 16, 2025, as announced during the MCA’s Annual General Meeting on April 15, 2025.  The MCA is fortunate to follow such a recognized path and honor Rohit Sharma for his fine contributions to Mumbai and India throughout his career, including his five IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians and 402 runs at the stadium in international cricket. The announcement was made a day before IPL 2025 resumes on May 17 and is likely a highly emotional decision, especially getting to honor Rohit Sharma.

Wankhede Stadium has a special place in the history of the game, and Mumbai cricket has always honored their great players since 1975, which has established a stand at the Wankhede Stadium with the names of the great Mumbai cricketers who played. As noted by MCA president Ajinkya Naik, "Those stands represent the legacy of those who built Mumbai's cricketing spirit - brick by brick, run by run." Rohit, aptly known as the "Mumbai cha Raja" (King of Mumbai), is a point of pride for the city and its fans, and having Daniel mention his journey to the ground that scripted many moments (especially iconic ones) is a fitting tribute. Here is the list of Mumbai Legends Stands at Wankhede.

Sachin Tendulkar

The Sachin Tendulkar Stand recognizes the "Master Blaster," who scored 34,357 international runs with 100 international centuries, a record. Tendulkar, the greatest Mumbai-born cricketer, scored his last international run at Wankhede in 2013, against South Africa. His stand is dedicated to his unmatched legacy in Indian cricket.

Sunil Gavaskar

The Sunil Gavaskar Stand commemorates the "Little Master," who first reached 10,000 Test runs and who finished with 10,122 Test runs in 125 Tests. Gavaskar is also a Mumbai boy, and his double-century of 205 runs against the West Indies at Wankhede in 1978 is memorable. His stand is fitting for Indian batting's leading light.

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Vijay Merchant

The Vijay Merchant Stand pays tribute to the Mumbai great who scored 3,597 runs in 10 Tests, averaging 47.72. Merchant, who was technically brilliant, was also instrumental in Mumbai's wealth and strength in domestic cricket, and now he has a stand at Wankhede Stadium, which signifies his contribution to the cricketing history of the city.

Dilip Vengsarkar

The Dilip Vengsarkar Stand pays tribute to the ‘Colonel,' who made 6,868 runs in Tests, inclusive of three centuries at Wankhede Stadium. A Mumbai stalwart whose elegance set the tone for an entire era of Indian cricket, the stand is named after Vengsarkar to acknowledge his impact on Mumbai cricket.

With Rohit Sharma now part of this group, Wankhede Stadium continues to stand as a temple of Mumbai cricket, serving as inspiration for future generations of cricketers to carry the mantle of these legends.

Former Indian captain Dilip Vengsarkar dismissed the rumors about Rohit Sharma’s retirement during the Champions Trophy, saying such nonsense talk is unnecessary. He believes senior players like Rohit should have the freedom to decide their future. Rohit, 37, recently denied retiring from ODIs after leading India to their second ICC title. However, he hasn’t said anything about the 2027 World Cup yet.  

“I’m not a fortune teller. There are many matches before the 2027 World Cup, and his form and fitness will decide what happens. It’s too early to say anything, but he has been brilliant as both captain and player. I don’t know why people are speculating it’s not needed. A player of his level should make that call himself,”  Vengsarkar told PTI.

Rohit’s batting was crucial in the 2024 T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, especially in tough conditions. His attacking style batting, particularly in the final against New Zealand, helped the Indian team handle the slow pitch better.

“The way he has played over the years is simply outstanding. He has scored three double centuries in ODIs what more can I say? Players like Virat and Rohit shine in big matches. The bigger the stage, the better they perform. Just having them on the field puts pressure on the opposition,” said Dilip Vengsarkar, who, as a former chief selector, closely watched both Rohit and Kohli’s early careers. The team’s win was also helped by strong performances from Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul on Dubai’s slow pitches.  

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“Iyer batted really well, but I wasn’t happy with how he got out in the final. He should have stayed till the end and finished the game. But it’s good to see him realizing his potential,” Vengsarkar said.  

He also praised KL Rahul for his important knocks at No. 6 but questioned why Axar Patel was sent in before him at No. 5. “KL played some key innings, but I’m still not sure about Axar batting ahead of him. Maybe it was just for the left-right combination,” he added. Vengsarkar also gave credit to the selectors for India’s success. “They deserve praise too. They stuck with Rohit after the Australia series, and picking five spinners for the squad turned out to be a brilliant decision.”