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The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) unveiled its much-awaited museum inside the Wankhede Stadium complex on August 23. It is named after Sharad Pawar, who served as the President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2005 to 2008 and the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 2010 to 2012. The museum will be functional for the public soon as cricket fans will get to witness the rich legacy of Mumbai cricket and its magnificent contributions to Team India and world cricket. The museum’s highlight is the life-size statues of India batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and Sharad Pawar at the entrance.
Sunil Gavaskar and Pawar attended the inaugural event. The World Cup 1983 champion Gavaskar also hailed MCA for coming up with the museum as the 70-year-old believes that young players who aspire to become a cricketer will find inspiration after visiting the museum and knowing the tales of the cricketing legends.
"I must say I've always considered myself a student of cricket history. In our playing days, there were no videos - only books and magazines. We learned from reading, from autobiographies, and from the written word. That's why seeing this museum makes me genuinely happy. MCA has done a wonderful job, not just for Mumbai cricket but for Indian cricket as a whole. Young players who visit will find inspiration in the stories and history preserved here," remarked Gavaskar.
Sunil Gavaskar’s contribution to Team India
Sunil Gavaskar has made a huge contribution to India’s journey in becoming the major cricketing powerhouse in the world. In his debut international series, he helped India win the Test series against West Indies in Caribbean conditions. During that period, the Windies side’s fast-bowling unit side was known for decimating batters ruthlessly but Gavaskar displayed courage in his first series and ended up as the leading run-getter with 774 runs in eight innings of four Tests.
Riding on his batting heroics, India claimed their maiden Test competition victory on Windies soil. As a Test player, Gavaskar also became the first batter to notch up 10000 runs in cricket’s oldest format. Appearing in 125 Tests, Gavaskar hoarded 10122 runs with 34 centuries in 214 innings. The legend was also a part of India’s World Cup 1983 triumph.
