In a truly emotional ceremony on May 16, 2025, the parents of Rohit Sharma, the India cricket and Mumbai Indians captain, unveiled a stand named in honor of him at Wankhede Stadium. The event was part of a day full of tributes at Wankhede, with stands named for Sharad Pawar and Ajit Wadekar, as the IPL 2025 continued after a week's suspension due to India-Pakistan tensions on the cusp of an IPL match on May 17. The moment captured the personal significance of the honor for Rohit and his family. 

Rohit's now teary parents stood humbly next to Ajinkya Naik, MCA president, and Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Chief Minister. The stand, and his batting pose, displaying Rohit's name, is now a permanent legacy of Rohit Sharma at Wankhede, where he played for Mumbai Indians, scored 402 runs, and led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles so far. The noise from the crowd and the expression of concern from both his parents while they were there were a clear reference to the emotional weight of the moment and the history of a wave of girls' and women's cricket. even if they had no context of the history of the stand being unveiled, the ceremony marked a watershed moment in the history of Mumbai cricket.

As the greatest ground in the history of Cricket, Wankhede has continued to pay homage to its legends over the years, and the Rohit Sharma Stand joins the Sachin Tendulkar Stand as support behind each incredible player. This honor, in the context of various events occurring in the world right now, is a strong acknowledgement of the importance of cricket and personal connections with it to people around the world that continue to inspire forever.

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Rohit Sharma’s parents get emotional as they unveil his stand at Wankhede stadium🥹❤️ pic.twitter.com/8L0iWWPz59

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) May 17, 2025

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A Permanent Tribute in the Wankhede

The Rohit Sharma Stand is now available as an inspiration for the next wave of cricketers. Ahead of the Mumbai Indians game against the Delhi Capitals on May 21st, the stand will always stand as a visual demonstration of what hard work and passion are capable of. 

In the midst of Mumbai’s cricketing fortress, this tribute stands for the fact that every cricketing hero’s story is a collection of love, determination, and the support of family to carry them through, adding weight and meaning to every performance.

Rohit Sharma gave a very emotional speech at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) stand naming ceremony on May 16, 2025. The ceremony, at Wankhede Stadium, was the official naming of the Rohit Sharma Stand, in appreciation of his invaluable services to Mumbai and Indian cricket. Standing at the podium with the MCA logo, Rohit narrated his state of disbelief and gratitude: "For all of us, what is going to happen today I have never dreamt of." As a child aspiring to play cricket for Mumbai and aspiring to play cricket for India, nobody thinks about these sorts of things." His tone was laced with real emotion, a personal milestone that fits into the revival of the IPL 2025 season on May 17 after being suspended for a week owing to India-Pakistan tensions.

Rohit, who has scored 402 runs in 11 Wankhede international games and guided Mumbai Indians to a record five IPL championships, referred to the dream-like privilege of having a stand named in his honor. "For all of us, what is going to happen today I never even dreamt of. As a young kid who grew up wishing to play the sport for Mumbai, wishing to play for India, you don't think of these kind of things.“ His voice had an undeniable wave of emotion when he said this, and it was an honesty that highlighted his personal milestones in the middle of the start of the IPL 2025 season, returning on May 17 after a week-long pause thanks to India-Pakistan tensions.

The ceremony, in which MCA president Ajinkya Naik and other dignitaries were present, also included the inauguration of stands for Sharad Pawar and Ajit Wadekar and the MCA Office Lounge in the memory of Amol Kale. Rohit's emotional recall of the moment was apparent as he spoke of his career, saying, "While doing that, obviously you try and achieve a lot of things, you achieve a lot of things, and a lot of milestones are created." His words were a tribute to his own achievement and the team spirit of Mumbai cricket, winning over fans as Wankhede continues to pay homage to its heroes.

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Rohit Sharma’s iconic speech about his stand in Wankhede Stadium. ❤️🥹
pic.twitter.com/QRSp8GHata

— ‏ً (@Ro45Goat) May 16, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: Rohit Sharma’s heartwarming mentions to his Family and ‘Ritika’ last with smile

A Testament to Legacy and Inspiration

As Wankhede Stadium gets ready to welcome Mumbai Indians' next IPL fixture against Delhi Capitals on May 21, the Rohit Sharma Stand is a testament to his memory that will endure. Rohit's heartfelt speech will be a precious memory, summarizing his career and the vast extent of his contribution to the game. The recognition at Wankhede, a stadium that is equated with cricketing excellence, motivates future generations, symbolizing the indomitable spirit of Mumbai cricket.

India and Former Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma gave a very emotional speech on the day of the unveiling of the Rohit Sharma Stand at Wankhede Stadium on May 16, 2025, when he spoke of the immense gratitude he felt for his family and wife, Ritika Sajdeh. The function, one of a series of tributes to greats at Wankhede, also featured the dedication of stands for Sharad Pawar and Ajit Wadekar and the MCA Office Lounge in honor of Amol Kale. Rohit's speech was especially emotional as he welcomed the presence of his parents, brother, and wife, who were present, giving it a human touch to the professional achievement. His use of the term "Ritika Bhabhi" for Ritika brought a warm smile to his face, capturing the mood of the moment during the resumption of the IPL 2025 season on May 17 after a week-long hiatus because of India-Pakistan tensions.

Standing at the podium with the logo of MCA in the background, Rohit addressed how there was a surreal moment of having a stand named after him at Wankhede stadium where he has scored 402 runs in 11 international games and won five IPL titles as the captain of Mumbai Indians. "It will be such a special feeling to have a stand, particularly because my family—my mom and dad, my brother and his wife, and my wife, who is here with me as well—are such special individuals in my life. I am so, so thankful," he stated, his tone filled with true emotion. The speech, recorded by ANI, spoke of not only his cricketing success but also the down-to-earth impact of his family, striking a chord with fans who have watched him grow from a promising batsman to a cricketing hero.

Rohit's reference to Ritika, his constant support after their marriage in 2015, emphasized the personal depth of the achievement. Regularly seen supporting him at games, Ritika's presence at the ceremony, along with other relatives, lent some substance to the proceedings. Rohit also thanked the MCA members, Sharad Pawar, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the honor, but it was his family thanks that resonated most, showing the balance between his success professionally and values personally.

Rohit Sharma first took the name of his parents, brother and his wife and than he took the name of Ritika Bhabhi.🥹🫂
pic.twitter.com/4T6sALAyKd

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) May 16, 2025

Also Read: WATCH: Rohit Sharma stand unveiled at Wankhede stadium amidst grand ceremony

A Tribute to Family and Legacy 

The powerful emotions of Rohit's speech, moments before he led the Mumbai Indians against the Delhi Capitals on May 21 at Wankhede, will almost certainly be fondly recalled by fans. The Rohit Sharma Stand, built from multiple generations of love and support by family as lovers of cricket, is a permanent tribute to Rohit's legacy at Wankhede. While the stadium continues to celebrate Mumbai's cricket legends, the emotion behind Rohit's words and the presence of his family represent those truly valuable personal stories behind professional records that future generations will learn from.