‘Shastri’s snub from Wankhede honors surprising’ – Shishir Hattangadi urges MCA to re-examine oversight

Former Mumbai captain Shishir Hattangadi has urged the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to honour former India head coach Ravi Shastri at the Wankhede Stadium. In May, the MCA erected stands at the Wankhede Stadium named after India ODI captain Rohit Sharma, former India captain Ajit Wadekar, and former BCCI President Sharad Pawar.

Hattangadi has written to the MCA, requesting that the state cricket body name anything after the former Indian all-rounder at the Wankhede Stadium. He said Shastri’s exclusion was shocking and that his legacy is well known.

“I am surprised and concerned that Ravi Shastri, former India captain, all-rounder, and national coach, has not been included on the list of names memorialised at the stadium.

Shishir Hattangadi wrote to MCA President Ajinkya Naik, as reported by The Times of India,

“His legacy is well known—not only for the iconic feat of hitting six sixes in an over in a first-class game, following in the footsteps of Sir Gary Sobers,” but also for his impactful career as a player and his significant role in shaping modern Indian cricket as a coach.

“This omission, whether deliberate or not, overlooks an important chapter in Mumbai’s and Indian cricket’s history. I don’t want to get into statistics because Shastri’s legacy is more than simply numbers—it’s the impact he had on the game, both on and off the pitch,” he said.

Hattangadi further urged for a re-evaluation of the mistake of not naming anything after Shastri at the historic Mumbai venue, emphasising that his enormous impact on Indian and Mumbai cricket warrants such acknowledgement.

“As someone who values the administration and its role in preserving the sport’s tradition, I strongly urge the MCA to reconsider this mistake. Hattangadi remarked, “A better understanding of cricket’s history and the personalities who shaped it will only strengthen our future.”

“With warm regards and continuing respect. He said, “This is an observation, not a political statement.”

Shastri played 80 Tests and 150 ODIs for India, scoring 6,938 runs and taking 280 wickets. He was also a member of India’s 1983 World Cup winning side and was voted Player of the Tournament in the country’s 1985 World Cricket Championship victory. He also equalled Sir Garry Sobers’ Ranji Trophy record of six sixes in an over in January 1985.

Shastri was the Indian team’s coach during the two Test series victories Down Under (2018-19 and 2020-21), and the Men in Blue also advanced to the semi-finals of the 2019 ODI World Cup under his guidance.