Sunil Gavaskar Honoured: Life-Size Statue of the Little Master Unveiled at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium

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Sunil Gavaskar was immortalised with a life-size statue unveiled at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, celebrating his legendary cricketing legacy.

Sunil Gavaskar Immortalised at Wankhede Stadium

Sunil Gavaskar

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was honoured on Saturday with the unveiling of a life-size statue at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium. The statue coincided with the inauguration of the Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), where visitors can now also see a statue of Sharad Pawar at the grand entrance. The Little Master, widely regarded as one of India’s greatest batters, is celebrated through this tribute to his enduring legacy.

A similar honour was given to Sachin Tendulkar in 2023 during the ODI World Cup. Sunil Gavaskar, a key member of India’s iconic 1983 World Cup-winning side, also led India to victory in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket, defeating arch-rival Pakistan in the summit clash.

Speaking about the occasion, Gavaskar said, “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,” he added.

Gavaskar, who made his Test debut in 1971, is widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batters in cricket history. Known for his impeccable defence, he could occupy the crease for hours without breaking a sweat. Over his illustrious career, he faced some of the fiercest bowlers of his era, including the legendary West Indies pace quartet—Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and others—as well as battling cricketing greats like Richie Benaud, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan, and Ian Botham.

The Little Master played 125 Tests and 108 ODIs for India, amassing over 13,000 runs across both formats. He also became the first player in cricket history to score 10,000 Test runs, achieving the milestone against Pakistan in Ahmedabad in 1987.

‘Future generations can connect’

Sunil Gavaskar emphasized that the Sharad Pawar Museum at Wankhede Stadium will allow future generations to connect with and learn from cricket’s rich history. Recently, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar donated his jersey from the iconic 1976 Lord’s Test against England, while Rohit Sharma contributed his bat and jersey from the 2023 ODI World Cup.

“For years, I felt a museum was needed to showcase our rich cricketing heritage, and MCA has brought that vision to life in a commendable way. What makes it even more special is the digital presentation—technology now allows us to recreate and present cricket from the days before television,” Gavaskar said.

“This way, future generations can connect with and learn from the game’s glorious past,” he added.

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