
India captain Rohit Sharma on Sunday said the intensity of the T20 World Cup triumph began to dawn on him when he witnessed a sea of blue to welcome him and his men’s band to the Wankhede Stadium last July. went At the zenith of his international career, the Indian skipper won’t mind being drenched in a deluge of fans one last time if he can recapture the Champions Trophy he won in 2013. On Sunday, when the Mumbai Cricket Association’s grand celebrations came to an end. As the Wankhede Stadium completes 50 years, Rohit said it would be his to share the joy of another such win with the crowd here. desire
“When I woke up the day after the celebration here, we realized,” Rohit said when asked when he really realized that India had won the World Cup.
“Because after what happened the other day, when we paraded the team with so many people on the streets, the next day I realized what we did was very special.” “Winning the World Cup and celebrating with your people is a different thing, you celebrate with your players and teams anyway but celebrating with your people is a different feeling and I knew it would happen then,” he said. When we come back to Mumbai. said.
Rohit said that the Indian team will start their Champions Trophy campaign soon and will try to bring another trophy to the famous stadium here.
“We will start another tournament. I am sure that when we reach Dubai (the wishes of 140 crore people) will be behind us, we know that we will do everything we can to bring back this trophy (ICC Champions Trophy). We will try our best here in Wankhede,” he said.
The Indian captain said he wanted to bring another World Cup trophy to Wankhede after witnessing a similar celebration of the 2007 T20 World Cup win here.
“When we came back from South Africa after winning the (T20) World Cup, I dreamed of winning another World Cup and bringing it here,” he said.
“I remember, we were still in Barbados after winning the (T20) World Cup and we were stuck there because of the cyclone but planning was going on as to what we would do after coming back to India. Go to (New) Delhi ( (to meet the prime minister) but what after that? “No one knew what to do after that but I wanted the World Cup (trophy) to come here in Wankhede. The recent World Cups we won in 2007 and 2011 were each celebrated at Wankhede and brought (the trophy). 2024 was also very important for us.
The legendary Sunil Gavaskar said that when he visits the stadium, he feels “coming to home ground”.
He said that when the Wankhede Stadium was built in 1974, our dressing room was downstairs. When we first stepped into the ground for a practice session, it was love at first sight.
“Earlier, we were playing at Brabourne Stadium, which belonged to a club (Cricket Club of India). But coming here, it felt like the home ground of Mumbai cricket. When you have a home ground, the feeling is there. Always different. I still feel like my chest swells with pride every time I come to the commentary.
Sachin Tendulkar said he experienced the same emotions while playing his last Test here in 2013 against the West Indies.
“When the schedule of the series against West Indies was announced, I called Mr. N. Srinivasan and requested if the second and last match of the series could be played at Wankhede as I wanted my mother to give me my last match. Watch the match play”. said.
“In 30 years, she had never seen me play live and at that time her health was not such that she could not go anywhere other than Wankhede. The BCCI very kindly accepted the request. Kya and my mother and entire family are in Wankhede that day, when I stepped into Wankhede, I am experiencing the same emotions.
Tendulkar remarked that India, despite reaching the final of the ODI World Cup in 2003, could only cross the barrier at this stage in 2011.
“Undoubtedly, it was the best moment of my life,” he said, talking about a picture from the World Cup-winning night when Tendulkar was hoisted on his shoulders by his teammates.
“His (referring to Gavaskar) win in 1983 gave me the motivation to have the trophy in my hands as well. We came close to winning the World Cup in India in 1996 and in South Africa in 2003. However, we Overcoming the Finals Hurdle At My Home Ground Wankhede Stadium Until then, no host nation had won the World Cup.
Ravi Shastri recalled hitting six sixes on Baroda bowler Tilak Raj as if he were on commentary, while the event also featured a spectacular laser show and musical performance.
A coffee table book and a postage stamp were also issued.
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