Tendulkar, Rahane, Mantri to have lounges named after them at Wankhede, announces MCA

While the lounges honouring Mantri and Rahane are set to be designated in the MCA Pavilion, the one in Tendulkar’s name is likely to come up closer to his statue in the Sachin Tendulkar Stand. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Archives

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has decided to honour three of its former captains — late Madhav Mantri, Ajinkya Rahane and Sachin Tendulkar — by naming a lounge each after them at the Wankhede Stadium. The decision was formalised at the MCA’s 87th Annual General Meeting (AGM) here on Friday.

“The AGM unanimously adopted the resolution proposing the lounges to honour three of our former captains,” MCA president Ajinkya Naik said after the meeting. “A three-member sub-committee has been formed that will demarcate specific areas for the lounges.”

The sub-committee will comprise MCA vice-president Jitendra Awhad, councillor Milind Narvekar and members’ representative Adv. Ujwal Nikam.

While the lounges honouring Mantri and Rahane are set to be designated in the MCA Pavilion, the one in Tendulkar’s name is likely to come up closer to his statue in the Sachin Tendulkar Stand.

Mantri was a multiple Ranji Trophy-winning captain for Mumbai and remains the last Test cricketer to have served as MCA president.

Rahane led Mumbai and India, while Tendulkar remains one of Mumbai and Indian cricket’s most celebrated figures.

The 18-minute AGM also adopted a resolution to increase the Association’s grassroots development corpus from ₹100 crore to ₹500 crore over the next 10 years.

Sachin Tendulkar with the Ranji Trophy after beating Punjab in the final in 1995. | Photo Credit: SPORTSTAR

“It will be distributed to the maidan clubs, schools and college gymkhanas for cricket development. It will help Mumbai cricket’s base get stronger with every passing year,” Naik said.

The AGM also unanimously re-elected Rajdip Gupta as the chairman of the T20 Mumbai League and Bharat Kini as a member of the League committee. The Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC), headed by former India spinner Raju Kulkarni, was also granted an extension.