It’s 2003. A young boy, just out of his U-16 practice at Azad Maidan, makes his way through the familiar chaos of Mumbai. Kit bag slung over his shoulder, he weaves through the hustle and bustle of the city of dreams, heading straight to the Wankhede Stadium — not to play, but to steal a glimpse of his idols in action.
More than two decades later, that same boy, now India’s captain in Tests and ODIs, finds himself at the very ground he once gazed at in awe. Only this time, it’s his name that adorns a stand at the iconic venue.
At the press briefing for Season 3 of the T20 Mumbai League, Rohit Sharma took a moment to reflect on the magnitude of it all.
“No one dreams of things like this when they start off playing cricket,” he said, his voice faltering slightly as he tried to put his emotions into words. From a wide-eyed fan in the stands to becoming a name etched into the very heart of Mumbai and Indian cricket — it was a full-circle moment.
“Back then, a few of my friends and I would cross the railway tracks just to catch a glimpse of Ranji Trophy cricketers. It was tough to even get inside the stadium,” Rohit recalled. “When I finally played my first match at the Wankhede, it was a huge honour. And to share the field with some of the greats, that was another level altogether.”
Now, in 2025, the T20 and Champions Trophy-winning captain has a stand at the Wankhede named in his honour after the MCA made this historic decision during its 86th Annual General Meeting. The Divecha Pavilion Level 3 stand will now bear his name. “It’s an unreal feeling. I’ll be forever grateful for this massive honour in my life. It’s something I never imagined… a very emotional moment for me,” he added.
This was after the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced the return of the T20 Mumbai League after a six-year hiatus, and fittingly, named Rohit as the face of the tournament for its third season.
Set to begin on May 26, the league promises to showcase the city’s finest cricketing talent. According to the MCA, the latest edition has already received over 2,800 player registrations — a testament to the hunger and depth of Mumbai cricket.
“We are proud to announce Rohit Sharma as the face of the T20 Mumbai League,” said MCA President Ajinkya Naik. “His incredible journey mirrors the values Mumbai cricket stands for grit, determination, hard work and ambition. His presence will inspire the next generation of cricketers and raise the profile of the league.”
The league has also onboarded two new franchise operators: Roadway Solutions India Infra Ltd, which acquired the Sobo Mumbai Falcons for Rs 82 crore, and Royal Edge Sports & Entertainment, which purchased the team representing Mumbai’s South Central region for Rs 57 crore.
From the dusty pitches of Azad Maidan to a stand in his name at Wankhede, Rohit’s story continues to inspire a city that never stops dreaming.
“However rough the day has been, forget about today and focus on tomorrow only because you should not lose faith in yourself, because there’s always an opportunity waiting for you. And you can only conquer the next day if you are 100 per cent ready, so don’t lose hope, don’t lose faith, and keep believing in yourself that you can change things around,” Rohit said signing off.