The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) have renamed the iconic Feroz Shah Kotla ground as the Arun Jaitley Stadium in a glittering ceremony in the capital on Thursday, September 12, 2019, held at the Weightlifting Hall of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Home Minister Amit Shah digitally inaugurated the renamed Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in presence of late former finance minister's family. Also unveiled was a new pavilion stand named after India captain Virat Kohli, who hails from Delhi. A short video and an animation film on Kohli's journey from being a U-19 player to India captain was also shown.

"When I decided to name a stand in honor of Virat Kohli, I told this first to Arun Jaitleyji. He told me this is a good decision because there is no better player than Virat in world cricket," said DDCA president Rajat Sharma.

The gala evening was also attended by Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju, former sports minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, ex-skipper Kapil Dev and former India opener Chetan Chauhan, among others.

"For Arun ji, cricket was his passion and life. He remained DDCA chief for 13 years and he played a great role in making the likes of Virat, Pant, Dhawan, Nehra, Sehwag as great players. All these players love him very much," Sharma said.

Kapil Dev said: "Wonderful to have a stand in name of Virat. And whatever DDCA does for Arun Jaitley is not enough given his contribution."

"Arun Jaitleyji was president for 14 years and I was vice president. He was our friend, guide. Whenever we needed direction, we would help us. The biggest help he did was to rebuild the Kotla stadium. So befitting to name it in his honor," former India opener Chetan Chauhan said.

(PTI inputs)