November 2023: Tendulkar’s Statue Installed at Wankhede Stadium, His Home Ground
Tendulkar's Statue Installed at Wankhede Stadium
On Wednesday, a day before India’s World Cup match against Sri Lanka, the Wankhede Stadium unveiled a life-size metal statue of Sachin Tendulkar. The statue, designed and created by renowned painter-sculptor Pramod Kamble, depicts Tendulkar playing a lofted shot, replicating his memorable shot from the Desert Storm tournament in Sharjah in 1998. The statue has been erected next to the Sachin Tendulkar Stand in the stadium.
Tendulkar Recalls Early Memories of Wankhede Stadium
Thanking the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for their kind gesture, Sachin Tendulkar fondly recalled his first visit to the Wankhede Stadium at the age of 10. He also cherished the proud moment when Sunil Gavaskar introduced him to the Indian team in the dressing room during the 1987 World Cup.
Tendulkar Honored by MCA with Stand and Statue
Tendulkar‘s journey to representing Mumbai and eventually India began at the Wankhede Stadium. In honor of his remarkable contributions, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) dedicated a stand and a statue to immortalize his legacy.
“I am truly humbled,” Tendulkar said. “When I go to the ground, many memories come to my mind. It is a tribute to me by the MCA.”
Tendulkar Reminisces About Sneaking into Wankhede Stadium
“I was just 10 years old when I first visited the Wankhede Stadium in 1983,” Tendulkar recalled. “The West Indies had come to India after the World Cup and the excitement was palpable. My brother’s friends from Bandra, all in their 30s and 40s, had decided to watch the match and invited me to tag along. I went with them and enjoyed the game from the North Stand. On our way back, I heard someone say, ‘Achha manage diya, na?’ (We managed it well, no?). It was then that I realized that we had only 24 tickets for 25 people, and they had snuck me in. After that, I also got a chance to play at the Wankhede Stadium…”
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