NEW DELHI: A historic moment unfolded at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Friday as the Rohit Sharma Stand was officially unveiled, honouring India’s ODI captain. The emotional ceremony was soon followed by a light-hearted moment that went viral — a video capturing Rohit pulling up his younger brother Vishal, reportedly over a dent in their car.In true Rohit fashion, his reaction was hilariously deadpan: “Yeh kya hai?” he asked, pointing at the damage.Vishal, caught off guard, replied sheepishly, “Reverse.”To which Rohit responded, “Kiska? Tere se?” — a quick-fire exchange that had fans in splits, many calling it “peak big brother energy.”Wankhede holds a special place in Rohit’s heart — it’s where his cricketing journey took flight back in 2007. Speaking at the unveiling, the veteran batter expressed deep gratitude to everyone involved in the event and reflected on the stadium’s personal and professional significance in his life.“Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has come here to make this event so special. What is going to happen today, I never dreamt of it,” Rohit said. “As a kid growing up wanting to play for Mumbai and India, no one thinks about things like these. Like any other sportsperson, I only aimed to give my best and serve the nation. While doing that, you achieve many milestones, but something like this is truly special.”
Rohit’s parents — Gurunath and Poornima Sharma — his wife Ritika Sajdeh, and brother Vishal were present at the stadium to witness the unveiling. Emotions ran high as Rohit acknowledged the impact of their sacrifices on his journey.
Poll
Do you believe Rohit Sharma’s achievements will inspire future cricketers?
“To have my name amongst legends of the game and renowned world leaders… I can’t put this feeling into words. I’m grateful to the MCA, the Apex Council, and everyone involved,” he said. “To receive this honour while I’m still playing makes it even more surreal. I’ve retired from two formats but continue to play ODIs. On the 21st, when I return here to play for Mumbai Indians against Delhi Capitals, it’ll be a truly special moment.”Rohit, who recently retired from Test cricket, has been a cornerstone of Mumbai cricket and led India to back-to-back ICC titles — the T20 World Cup in 2024 and the Champions Trophy in 2025.
As he wrapped up his address, Rohit humorously noted that his Mumbai Indians teammates were eager for his speech to end so they could start their training. “It’ll be even more special when I get to play an India match at this venue again. To receive this honour in front of my parents, wife, and brother is beyond words. I’m deeply grateful for all they’ve done.”Ritika Sajdeh, often seen by Rohit’s side during tournaments and known as one of his strongest supporters, was visibly emotional throughout the event.Having debuted for India in 2007, Rohit has enjoyed a decorated international career. He was part of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup-winning squad and has represented the country in 159 T20Is, 273 ODIs, and 67 Tests. He bid farewell to T20Is after India’s title triumph in Barbados last year.
Get IPL 2025 match schedules, squads, points table, and live scores for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
