Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar A social media post has sparked an indirect dig at the Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) decision to honor former all-rounder Ravi Shastri with a stand at Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium.
Ahead of Mumbai Indians (MI)'s clash against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the MCA has planned a special ceremony to name a stand after Shastri. At the event, India's T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav will be honored by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, while tributes will be paid to several Mumbai cricket legends.
As part of the initiative, the stand below the press box will henceforth bear Shastri's name, while Gate No. 3 will be named after Dilip Sardesai. Gates 5 and 6 are set to honor Diana Edulji and Eknath Solkar respectively.
However, Manjrekar seemed unhappy with the move and made a cheeky comment on X (formerly Twitter), which quickly went viral on social media.
“Mumbai Cricket Association is requested to keep some gates and stands in the name of players for future management,” the former India batsman wrote on Twitter.
See Sanjay Manjrekar's 'X' post here
requesting @MumbaiCricAssoc Some gates and stands should also be kept in the name of players for future management. ☺️
– Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) 9 April 2026
I was just 12 years old when I came to Wankhede for the first time: Shastri
Notably, MCA has earlier named stands after legendary personalities Sachin TendulkarSunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Rohit Sharma to name a few. Meanwhile, Shastri reflected on his emotional connect with the venue and the honor he received.
“The first time I came to the Wankhede Stadium, I was just 12 years old. I took the bus and train, went to the North Stand and sat there and watched cricket. It was 1974. I was a small boy, and I couldn't stay the whole day. But that's where it all started, the famous North Stand of Wankhede, where college and school students, along with the coaches, sat together. The most knowledgeable crowd in the country,” Shastri quoted. Indian Express.
He further added, “This is where cricket was understood. When my mother heard that the stand would be named after me, she couldn't be prouder. She is a cricket encyclopedia. She sees everything.”
The ceremony was held on Thursday, April 09, three days before Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians take on RCB in the upcoming IPL 2026 match at the iconic venue.
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