Rohit Sharma urges Ravi Shastri to leave corner seat, sit in centre instead; remarkable gesture at Wankhede wins hearts
Rohit Sharma reserved a brilliant gesture for Ravi Shastri during the event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Wankhede Stadium.
A host of Indian cricket legends from Mumbai assembled at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday to celebrate the venue’s 50th anniversary. The event featured a special segment where Mumbai’s cricketing greats, past and present, shared their cherished memories of playing at the historic venue. Among the stalwarts invited to the stage were Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Ravi Shastri, Rohit Sharma, and Ajinkya Rahane, among others.
The seating arrangement on stage was divided into three sections: right, centre, and left. When Ravi Shastri took the stage, he chose a seat on the left. Moments later, Rohit Sharma arrived, and in a gesture that resonated with respect and warmth, the Indian captain requested Shastri to move to the centre seats, acknowledging his stature and contributions to Indian cricket.
Many on social media have since praised Rohit for his respectful gesture for Shastri; Rohit was one of the integral members of the Indian team under Shastri as head coach.
In the same event, Rohit also addressed the fans after being asked to send a parting message before the Champions Trophy. The Indian captain said that the team would try “everything they can” to “bring back the trophy” at the Wankhede Stadium.
When India won the T20 World Cup last year, the BCCI held victory celebrations at the same venue, with every member of the winning side taking part. An open-top bus parade en route to the stadium was also held across the Marine Drive, with fans attending it in large numbers.
Rohit Sharma with Mumbai
Rohit is currently training with the Mumbai state team following a disappointing tour of Australia, where he could score only 31 runs across five innings.
Rohit has been training with the white ball ahead of the limited-overs season, which sees India plaiying England in three ODIs before the Champions Trophy. The two teams will also play five T20Is before the fifty-over series; Rohit retired from the shortest format in 2024.
Champions Trophy 2025: Rohit Sharma posed with the coveted trophy along with the doyens of Mumbai cricket, including Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, January 19.
India captain Rohit Sharma posed with the Champions Trophy, which was displayed at the Wankhede Stadium during the celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the iconic venue in Mumbai on Sunday, January 19. The doyens of Mumbai cricket, including Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Ravi Shastri, attended the glittering ceremony hosted by the Mumbai Cricket Association.
In a video that is going viral online, Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri can be seen asking Rohit Sharma to come closer to the Champions Trophy. However, the India captain politely declined their invitation, allowing the seniors to take centre stage. Sachin Tendulkar, Shastri, and Gavaskar posed right behind the coveted trophy, while Rohit stood at the extreme left of the stage.
Rohit, however, did not hide his intentions, stating that he and his team would do their utmost to bring the Champions Trophy back to the Wankhede Stadium, hinting at potential celebrations in Mumbai. Notably, India celebrated their T20 World Cup triumph last year with a roof-top bus parade along Marine Drive in Mumbai. The parade culminated in a glittering felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.
“We will embark on another tournament. I am sure when we reach Dubai, the wishes of 140 crore people will be behind us, we know that,” Rohit said, evoking cheers from the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium.
“We will try and do everything we can to bring this trophy back here to the Wankhede,” he added.
ROHIT RECALLS MUMBAI PARADE
Meanwhile, Rohit recalled the memorable bus parade following India’s T20 World Cup triumph. Rohit said he had no doubt that the Indian team would celebrate the victory in Mumbai after their meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi.
Thousands turned up for the bus parade, during which Rohit, Virat Kohli, and former coach Rahul Dravid took centre stage and won hearts with their passionate celebrations.
“I remember, we were still in Barbados after winning the World Cup, and we were stuck there due to a storm, but planning was in process as to what we would do once we were back in India.
“It was planned that we would go to Delhi, but what after that? No one knew what to do after that, but I wanted that World Cup (trophy) should come here to Wankhede. Each of the recent World Cups we have won in 2007 and 2011 has been celebrated at Wankhede, and bringing the trophy of 2024 was also very important for us,” he added.
With Thanks and Reference to:https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/story/cricket-rohit-sharma-champions-trophy-wankhede-stadium-gesture-viral-vieo-2667105-2025-01-20 and https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/rohit-sharma-urges-ravi-shastri-to-leave-corner-seat-sit-in-centre-instead-remarkable-gesture-at-wankhede-wins-hearts-101737308247458.html
