MS Dhoni and Wankhede Stadium bring up the memories of April 2, 2011, when India and Sri Lanka met in the final of the World Cup that year. The image of the Indian captain hitting that brilliant six off Nuwan Kulasekara to make India two-time world champions is ingrained in every Indian team fan’s memory.
The relation between MS Dhoni and the Wankhede Stadium might get a permanent symbol as Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has proposed to present a permanent seat to MS Dhoni, the same seat where his world cup winning six landed in the stands.
“As an act of gratitude and tribute to Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s immense contribution to Indian cricket, the MCA can devote a permanent seat on his name at the stand where his famous World Cup-winning six had landed. We can find out the area where the ball landed – and which seat it was flying to – after Dhoni smashed it to win the 2011 World Cup,” read (MCA) Apex Council member Ajinkya Naik, accessed by Indian Express.
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It’s the first time there has been an offer for a specific seat in a stadium, and not an entire stand, to be named after a player in India.
However, there have been instances around the world where seats or stand have been named after players who have hit a six in that particular part of the stadium.
In 1993, a seat in the Great Southern Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has been painted yellow to commemorate Simon O’Donnell’s 122-meter six for Victoria over New South Wales. In 2018, the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne painted a third-tier seat red to honor Big Bash League franchise Melbourne Renegade’s Brad Hodge, who hit a 96-meter six in what was his last match before retiring.
At Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand Cricket decided to honor former all-rounder Grand Elliot by naming a seat after him. Elliott hit a six off Dale Steyn to send New Zealand into their maiden World Cup final in the 2015 edition and the plaque that was placed on the seat where the ball landed stated: “Here Lies the Resting Place of Grant Elliott’s Mighty Six That Propelled the Blackcaps on March 24, 2015, into their maiden World Cup Final.”
“We can paint and decorate the seat in a unique way to celebrate Dhoni’s association with historical Wankhede Stadium in Indian cricket history. The seat could also be used as a major tourist attraction, as a paid tour of the stadium perhaps. It will allow the fans to relive the most glorious moment in Indian cricket and it will be part of MCA’s heritage. We can have a plaque on that seat with some special text to honor that moment,” Naik letter read.
The MCA Apex Council is scheduled to meet on Tuesday and it is likely that Naik’s proposal will be discussed.
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Naik also suggested finding the ball that was used in 2011 final, which can be preserved in the MCA’s planned museum. His letter read, “It would also be nice if possible to find out where that World Cup ball is. It can be a proud attraction in the upcoming cricket museum. Here is a small suggestion from me to honor the legendary MS Dhoni.”
Wankhede Stadium already has a few areas dedicated in honor of former players like the Sachin Tendulkar Stand, the Sunil Gavaskar Stand, and Vijay Merchant Stand. There’s also the Polly Umrigar Gate and Vinoo Mankad Gate.
