Rohit Sharma urged his parents to sit in stand named after him at Wankhede

India captain and Mumbai Indians stalwart Rohit Sharma recently shared an emotional moment from his personal life, revealing the heartfelt reaction of his parents after learning that a stand at Mumbai`s iconic Wankhede Stadium would be named in his honour.

In a candid conversation with journalist Vimal Kumar, Rohit said he insisted that his parents must sit in the newly named stand once it is inaugurated.

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to rename the Divecha Pavilion Level 3 as the ‘Rohit Sharma Stand’, celebrating the achievements of one of India’s most successful cricket captains and Mumbai’s own cricketing pride.

For Rohit, this recognition is more than a professional accolade. “I told them, when the stand with my name is inaugurated, they have to come and sit there,” he said. Interestingly, Rohit also shared that his parents rarely attend his matches live, preferring to watch them from home due to nerves.

“They don’t like going out much,” he added. However, he recalled two special occasions when they did make it to the stadium, including his first match as India captain at the Wankhede in 2017.

The honour holds even more weight for Rohit considering his humble beginnings. “Twenty years ago, we weren’t even allowed to enter the stadium. Now there’s a stand in my name, that’s massive,” he reflected. Recalling his journey, Rohit described Wankhede as the ground where he grew, trained, struggled, and evolved. “I’ve practised there, been scolded there… It’s a special place,” he added.

Rohit also acknowledged the unwavering love of Mumbai’s cricket fans, praising them for their fairness and passion. “They even cheer for players like Warner and Smith. That’s the beauty of Mumbai cricket, they just love good cricket,” he said.

Rohit`s IPL 2025 campaign

On the field, Rohit has hit form at the right time. After a lacklustre start to IPL 2025, scoring just 56 runs in his first five innings, he has bounced back with scores of 26, 76*, 70, 12, and 53, showing explosive intent during the powerplays. His half-century against Rajasthan Royals, laced with nine boundaries, marked his third of the season.

With 6024 runs in 231 matches for MI, Rohit is now second only to Virat Kohli (8871 for RCB) in T20 franchise cricket history. As Mumbai Indians eye the playoffs, their veteran leader seems to be peaking just when they need him most.

This article first appeared on Mid Day