The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) on Friday (October 29) honored two of India’s greatest cricketers, Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, at an event at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
MCA has honored Gavaskar by inaugurating a hospitality box named after him while Vengsarkar was honored with a stand named the ‘Dilip Vengsarkar Stand’ at the Wankhede stadium.
The event was attended by Maharashtra's CM Uddhav Thackeray, Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar, former BCCI president Sharad Pawar, Sachin Tendulkar, Gundappa Viswanath, and many former cricketers along with senior MCA officials, including President Vijay Patil and Secretary Sanjay Naik.
Gavaskar and Vengsarkar both were present during the felicitation ceremony. The MCA also kicked off the 'Madhav Mantri centenary year celebrations.
Addressing the gathering, Vishwanath hailed both Gavaskar and Vengsarkar and recollected several anecdotes about the duo during his over 30-minute speech.
Tendulkar also recollected memories of Madhav Mantri Sir, Gavaskar, and Vengsarkar.
He said at the ceremony, “When we speak about discipline, the first name that comes to my mind is Madhav Mantri Sir, who was like a father figure to me. On that England tour (in 1991), I got my first Test hundred and Sir (Madhav Mantri) was very happy. It was 14th August. We also kept alive the series.”
Recalling how he met Gavaskar for the first time during the 1987 World Cup, the Master Blaster said: “When I was selected for the first time in Ranji Trophy probables, Gavaskar's name was there in the list and I was looking forward to playing alongside, but that dream remained unfulfilled.”
Tendulkar also recalled anecdotes of the epic '1991 Ranji Trophy' final, when he saw tears in Vengsarkar's eyes.
That year Mumbai lost the final, one of the most remembered games in the domestic history, to Haryana by two runs.
"The stand, which we are seeing after his (Vengsarkar's) name, it is a tribute to those tears," quipped Tendulkar.
Both Gavaskar and Vengsarkar thanked the MCA and the Apex Council members for the honor bestowed upon them.
(With PTI Inputs)
