The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was in full mood on December 14 as the global footballer, Lionel Messi, turned up in his ‘GOA India Tour’ 2025, where it was the second day of his three-day visit after making a trip to Kolkata and Hyderabad on the opening day. He had an event where he featured with the star cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar.

During the event, when DJ Chetas was playing the music, the entire ground started chanting, “India cha Raja Rohit Sharma’ as a tribute to their beloved Rohit Sharma, who has earned massive success with his skills around the globe and has done some fabulous things for the Indian cricket team. It was a heartwarming situation as the video went viral on social media platforms. 

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There was a massive police protection when the Footballer arrived in Mumbai as he met the famous Indian footballer, Sunil Chetri, besides getting a signed jersey from Tendulkar, which was a great moment for the fans of the Indian side. Messi also kicked the football to entertain the crowd.

Wankhede Stadium chants “India cha Raja Rohit Sharma” in viral video

Rohit Sharma has smashed a total of 11516 runs in 271 innings of the 50-over format at an average of just under 50 and a strike rate of 92.85 with the help of 61 half-centuries and 33 centuries at the best score of 264 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Rohit has also clubbed 4231 runs at a strike rate of 140.89 with five centuries and 32 fifties.

Watch the video here: 

"India cha Raja Rohit Sharma” fans chanting at Wankhede Stadium while Messi’s event was going on.🥵🔥

Unreal Aura of boss @ImRo45🐐 pic.twitter.com/T9BxYFmzlR

— 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) December 14, 2025

Rohit, who has retired from the shortest and longest formats of the game, returned with some decent performance during the away Australia series, where he smashed a fine half-century in Adelaide and remained unbeaten on a century during the third game in Sydney. He continued the same dominance in the home South Africa series.

The Nagpur-born is expected to feature in a couple of games for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025/26 before returning for the national side in the home three-match series against New Zealand earlier next year.

After his first day of the ‘GOAT India Tour’ 2025, where he made the trip from Kolkata and Hyderabad, the global star footballer, Lionel Messi, arrived in Mumbai amidst the growing fan gathering outside the Wankhede Stadium, where he is expected to meet the star cricketer, Sachin Tendulkar, before playing a few kicks in a friendly contest.

The gates of the Wankhede Stadium will open at 1:15 in the afternoon, and the organizers have made a long build-up aimed at keeping the fans through the musical function. DJ Chetas will take the stage after the local DJ entertains them for a few minutes. The on-field program will get full momentum with an All-Star 7vs7 football game.

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There was massive police protection when Messi arrived in Mumbai. He is anticipated to enter the stadium at around 5:37 in the afternoon. Following his arrival, he is scheduled to take selfies with the celebrities. He will also interact with 60 children- 30 boys and 30 girls- as a part of the Maharashtra government’s project.

Lionel Messi to play football with Sachin Tendulkar

Messi will take a lap of the ground before moving to the field, where he will be joined by the Indian football star, Sunil Chhetri, and the cricketing legend, Sachin Tendulkar, for a football and cricket-ball exchange program around 6:40 in the evening. He is also expected to be greeted by the Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor, John Abraham, and Jackie Shroff.

Watch the video here: 

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Argentine footballer Lionel Messi arrives at the Taj Hotel in Mumbai.

Lionel Messi is in Mumbai for his G.O.A.T. Tour India 2025. pic.twitter.com/SYo8FeUvRW

— ANI (@ANI) December 14, 2025

The stage will later see the representatives of the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) present the trophy of the winning all-stars team before being invited to have a few words to the audience, which will bring the on-field proceedings to a close.

Later, Messi will fly to Delhi on December 15, which will be the last day of his three-day tour to India. There is a growing speculation of the footballer meeting Virat Kohli, who has arrived in India with his family on December 14. Messi is also expected to meet the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in Delhi.

The global football superstar, Lionel Messi, will be in Mumbai on December 14 as part of the ‘GOAT India Tour’, following his appearances in Kolkata and Hyderabad on the opening day. The 38-year-old is expected to arrive at the Wankhede Stadium at around 5:35 in the evening, with a full house set to get the golden blue moon opportunity to see the icon live.

The gates  of the Wankhede Stadium will open around 1:15 in the afternoon, and the organizers have planned a long build-up aimed at keeping the fans through music. The local DJ will have an early program, followed by F Chetas, as the stadium will gradually get filled ahead of Messi’s arrival. The on-field program will get full momentum in the evening with an All-Star 7vs7 football game across the two surfaces.

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Messi is expected to enter the stadium at around 5:37 pm. Following his arrival, he is expected to take part in a selfie zone with the celebrities, along with taking penalty kicks. He will also interact with 60 children- 30 boys and 30 girls- as part of the Maharashtra government’s project.

Lionel Messi to play football with Sachin Tendulkar at this time

Messi is scheduled to take a lap of the ground before moving to the field of play, where he will be joined by the Indian football icon, Sunil Chhetri, and cricket legend, Sachin Tendulkar, for a football and cricket-bat exchange program around 6:40 in the evening. Kareena Kapoor, John Abraham, and Jackie Shroff are expected to be part of the function.

The stage proceedings will include the representatives of the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), as part of the event. The footballer is anticipated to present the trophy to the winning All Stars team before being invited to say a few words to the audience, bringing the on-field proceedings to a close.

For many stands, Sunday will give a chance to watch the footballers up close, with the young players being involved. The Argentine will travel to Delhi on Monday for the final leg of the tour, where he will meet the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.  

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced that a life-size statue of former India captain and selector Dilip Vengsarkar will be installed at the Wankhede Stadium. The decision was taken during the Apex Council meeting held on Wednesday. Vengsarkar’s statue will be the third to adorn the iconic venue, following those of cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.

An emotional Vengsarkar expressed his gratitude to the MCA for the honour. “It’s a great moment for me and I have no words to express my feelings. The MCA has given me everything, it made me who I am today,” he said. “I started my cricket journey at the age of 12 and played for several clubs and teams. Mumbai has always provided me with the platform and encouragement throughout my career. My journey is incomplete without my teammates and coaches. I’m deeply thankful to the MCA for this recognition.”

Vengsarkar, one of India’s most stylish and consistent batsmen, represented the country in 116 Tests and 129 ODIs, amassing 6,868 and 3,508 runs respectively. A member of India’s historic 1983 World Cup-winning squad, he also captained Mumbai in domestic cricket and remains the only overseas batter to score three consecutive centuries at Lord’s, a feat achieved in 1979, 1982, and 1986. He retired from international cricket in 1992 after a distinguished 16-year career.

Beyond his playing days, Vengsarkar served as chairman of selectors, vice-president of the MCA, and a member of the BCCI Apex Council representing the Indian Cricketers’ Association. As a selector, he is credited with spotting and fast-tracking Virat Kohli into the national setup. The MCA had earlier honoured him by naming a stand after him at Wankhede Stadium.

ALSO SEE: Men’s T20 World Cup 2025 Asia-EAP Regional Final: Schedule, Teams, Squads, TV & Live Streaming Details

MCA to install Dilip Vengsarkar’s statue at Wankhede and announce new cricket and relief initiatives

MCA president Ajinkya Naik said the decision to install the statue was part of a broader effort to celebrate cricketing excellence and social responsibility. “Honouring Dilip Vengsarkar with a statue at Wankhede is a tribute to one of Mumbai’s greatest cricketing icons. His contributions, as a player, selector, and administrator, have been immense. He continues to follow grassroots cricket closely and remains passionate about nurturing young talent,” Naik said.

The Apex Council also approved several other initiatives. To strengthen grassroots cricket, the association increased the cricket promotion subsidy for maidan clubs to ₹10,000 per match and will provide essential ground equipment to improve playing conditions. The MCA will also establish cricket academies across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to offer world-class training and infrastructure to budding players.

In a humanitarian gesture, the MCA announced a donation of ₹1 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to aid farmers affected by unseasonal rains across Maharashtra. Mumbai cricketers will contribute an additional ₹25 lakh towards the same cause.

With this tribute, Dilip Vengsarkar joins the pantheon of Mumbai cricket legends immortalized at Wankhede, an enduring reminder of his stellar contributions to Indian cricket both on and off the field.

It has been a great news for India and all the football loves of the country as Argentina’s legendary footballer and the global icon, Lionel Messi, who is regarded to be the greatest football player in the history, is set to visit the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai for an event on December 14 as the reports of Times of India has reported.

The Wankhede Stadium has witnessed various historic moments for India in the past years, including the memorable victory of the Indian side during the 2011 ODI World Cup final against Sri Lanka, besides getting a program for the celebration of the 2007 and 2024 T20 World Cup wins. Messi’s visit will add another chapter to the colorful history of the ground.

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‘Yes, Messi is set to visit the Wankhede Stadium for an event on December 14. The organizers of the event (Wizcraft) have sought permission for the event, which will be ticketed. Their request was discussed by the Mumbai Cricket Association's Apex Council in a meeting recently, and the permission was granted.’ The MCA source was revealed as reported by TOI on August 01.

Lionel Messi to visit Kolkata, Mumbai, and Delhi in December 2025

It has also been reported that a few superstar cricketers are expected to attend the event. If the reports are to be believed, then the schedule will be between December 13 and 15, with veteran football star visiting Kolkata, Delhi, and Mumbai, for a series of celebrations of his career, along with various events of the sport.

It has also been known that Messi will be felicitated at the iconic Eden Gardens’ stadium in Kolkata in the presence of the West Bengal chief minister, Sri Mamata Banerjee. During his stay in the city, he will conduct a workshop on the game and launch a clinic, for which an event will be held, called ‘GOAT CUP’ in his honour at the Eden Gardens.

On Jun 06, Kerala’s sports minister, V Abdurahiman, confirmed that the Argentina football team under Messi will visit Kerala for a friendly match in October or November at the Greenfield International Stadium. The government will host the team as the state guests, besides giving its full support. The previous occasion of the footballer visiting India came in 2011 when he played a friendly game at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

Indian cricket has recently been shaken by the news of more than six lakhs rupees worth of IPL jerseys theft during the IPL 2025. A key member of the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was arrested on this allegation.

The theft report

According to PTI reports, a total of 261 IPL jerseys were stolen from the official merchandise store of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the Wankhede Stadium in South Mumbai. Those stolen jerseys were worth INR 6.52 lakhs. 

During an audit of the inventory, the stealing incident was noticed. On July 17, the BCCI officials registered a complaint about the theft at the Marine Drive Police Station. 

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Security manager of Wankhede Stadium arrested

Later, the 43-year-old security manager of the Wankhede Stadium was arrested on that theft allegation. The PTI report claimed that the alleged person is Farooque Aslam Khan, who lives in Mira Road. While he was arrested a few days ago, but now reportedly out on bail. 

The report added that the security manager allegedly stole IPL 2025 jerseys on June 13 and later sold many of them online. The official reportedly claimed that 50 jerseys have been recovered from the alleged security manager of the renowned Indian cricket stadium. On the other hand, the investigation also revealed that many of the jerseys were sold to a dealer in Haryana. 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a cash-rich tournament, as it produces a lot of money for the Indian cricket board, cricketers, and the Indian cricket. While the tournament is now 18 years old, it has gradually established an important economic value for the country in various ways. It has played a huge role in the Indian sports industry, as the IPL has encouraged the systemic growth of other Indian sports with the presence of better monetary valuations. 

The crowd erupted in joy during the grand finale of the T20 Mumbai League 2025, the moment Rohit Sharma's visual was displayed on the giant screen at the Wankhede Stadium. For a brief moment, everyone's attention seemed to have turned momentarily to the former Indian captain. Naturally, the fans got very noisy and were quite excited to know that the World Cup-winning captain was in attendance for the Final. 

Rohit is one of the star icons of Indian cricket. His cricketing origins emanate from the Wankhede Stadium, where he played a lot of domestic cricket during his formative years. Moreover, he is no stranger to the local language (Marathi) either, as his birthplace is in Nagpur, Maharashtra. Quite understandably, he is naturally loved by the fans from this part of the world. 

See also: Mumbai T20 2025, Final: Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals vs SOBO Mumbai Falcons Full Match Highlights

Watch the video here:

Mumbai cha raja is ROHIT SHARMA is here ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/xCQ1En9Nuy

— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) June 12, 2025

Rohit Sharma is approaching the twilight phase of his international career. He will no longer be featuring for India in the whites or in the shortest format of the game. However, he will continue to play ODI cricket for the national side with an aim to propel India to their third ODI World Cup title win in the 2027 World Cup. India's glorious T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, followed by a flawless Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, are some of the major highlights of Rohit's illustrious captaincy tenure. 

Speaking of the Mumbai T20 2025 Final, Shreyas Iyer's SoBo Mumbai Falcons suffered yet another heartbreaking defeat in the final after being restricted to just 157. The target was never going to be enough as Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals got to their target eventually after overcoming a minor wobble with five wickets and four balls to spare. The Maratha Royals later received medals from Rohit Sharma during the closing ceremony. Chinmay Rajesh Sutar starred with the bat for Maratha Royals and notched up a well-controlled 53 (49) to anchor the innings and see his side over the line safely. 

In the grand finale of the Mumbai T20 League 2025 at the famous Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals (MSC Maratha Royals) won the toss, elected to field first and played against SOBO Mumbai Falcons (SBMF), contested a closely fought match where MSCMR held their nerve to win the title with a 5-wicket victory, with just four balls left in the chase.

SOBO Mumbai Falcons Innings

Batting first, SOBO Mumbai Falcons scored 157/4 in their 20 overs. They had a good start with Mayuresh Tandel registering a calm knock of 50 runs off 32 balls, who laid the foundation for the innings. Harsh Aghav also supported well, scoring 45 off 28 balls, who kept the scoreboard rolling. A late 20 from 17 deliveries courtesy of Ishan Mulchandani ensured the Falcons edged into the 150s. Yet, death overs bowling tight by the Royals saw the Falcons not quite being able to make the most of their start. Vaibhav Mali took 2 for 32, the best of the bowlers, with Maxwell Swaminathan and Aditya Dhumal picking up a wicket each. 

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals Innings

Chasing 158 for victory, the Royals kept their nerves and chased down the target in 19.2 overs, finishing at 158/5.  Chinmay Sutar anchored the innings as he scored a crucial 53 runs off 49 balls, while at the other end wickets fell in heaps. The momentum changed with Khan Awais Naushad's 38 runs off 24 balls in a very crucial time of their innings. Later, Sahil Jadhav added a quickfire 22 off just 12 deliveries, swinging the match in their favour. Despite good bowling efforts from the SMF, especially Yash Dicholkar ( 2/31) and Kartik Mishra (2/33), the Royals clinched the game 4 balls before time.

In the end, Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals emerged victorious by 5 wickets, lifting the Mumbai T20 League 2025 trophy in front of a packed Wankhede crowd.

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Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals vs SOBO Mumbai Falcons: Match Scorecard

SOBO Mumbai Falcons – 157/4 (20 Overs)

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals – 158/5 (19.2 Overs)

In the 2nd semi-final of the Mumbai T20 League 2025 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, SOBO Mumbai Falcons (SBMF) chose to bowl first against Namo Bandra Blasters (NBB). The Falcons performed clinically with bat and ball. SOBO Mumbai Falcons won by 5 wickets and moved on to the finals.

Namo Bandra Blasters Innings

Batting first, Namo Bandra Blasters were dismissed for 130 in their 20 overs. Dhrumil Matkar scored the top 34 of 30 balls in a patient knock, with Akash Anand (31 of 28) and Sagar Chabria (23 of 13) chipping in with small but vital innings. But the constant fall of wickets limited the Blasters from putting up a larger score. Akash Parkar was the bowler's choice for Falcons with an excellent spell of 3 for 16 in 2 overs. Siddharth Raut also bowled tight, taking 2 for 16, and Vinayak Bhoir contributed 1 for 17.

SOBO Mumbai Falcons Innings

Chasing a target of 131, the SOBO Mumbai Falcons got over the line in 14.4 overs, finishing at 131/5. Ishan Mulchandani played a match-winning knock, scoring a fluent 52 off just 34 balls. He was well supported by Akash Parkar, who struck 32 off 20, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s brisk 27 off 14 helped them accelerate. After a couple of breeches by Sagar Chabria (2/33) and Dhrumil Matkar (1/30), the Blasters were unable to keep the total under wraps. The Falcons' controlled and aggressive batting performance booked their spot in the finals.

Also Read: Mumbai T20 2025, 1st Semi-Final: Eagle Thane Strikers vs Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals Full Match Highlights

SOBO Mumbai Falcons (SBMF) vs Namo Bandra Blasters (NBB): Match Scorecard

Namo Bandra Blasters – 130/10 (20 Overs)

SOBO Mumbai Falcons – 131/5 (14.4 Overs)

In the 1st semi-final of the Mumbai T20 League 2025 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, Eagle Thane Strikers (ETS) elected to bat first against Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals (MSCMR). The match turned out to be a thrilling contest, with MSCMR dominating with the ball and chase. MSCMR won by 8 wickets. After this win, MSCMR advanced to the finals.

Eagle Thane Strikers Innings

Batting first, Eagle Thane Strikers posted 131/8 in their 20 overs. Sairaj Patil led the charge with a steady 41 off 40 balls, holding the innings together. Captain Atharva Ankolekar contributed an important 34 off 30 balls, while Ajit Yadav rounded out his innings with 19 off 13 balls to support the team. It was unfortunate that due to losing wickets frequently, the run-scoring momentum was lost to be able to have a late barrage. The Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals bowlers, led by Rohan Raje, who took 5 for 40 in just 4 overs, kept the Strikers on their toes throughout the innings.

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals Innings

With a target of 132 runs to chase down, the Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals chased down the Strikers in just 17.5 overs, winning off the last ball by 8 wickets, scoring 134/2. Captain Siddhesh Lad led the run chase, playing an outstanding innings of 74 runs off 52 balls, hitting the bowlers at his will. Chinmay Sutar and Sachin Yadav shared the same score of 19 off 20 balls to make the chase comfortable. Strikers had nothing working for them in their bowling as well, as Shashank Attarde (1/15) and Sairaj Patil (1/34) managed a wicket apiece. The batting of MSCMR was starkly composed as they stumbled into the final.

Also Read: MPL 2025, Match 9: Ratnagiri Jets vs Raigad Royals Full Match Highlights

Eagle Thane Strikers (ETS) vs Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals (MSCMR): Match Scorecard

Eagle Thane Strikers – 131/8 (20 Overs)

Mumbai South Central Maratha Royals – 134/2 (17.5 Overs)