The Wankhede Stadium celebrated its 50th anniversary with a week-long series of events organized by the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) from 12th January to 19th January. The main celebration is scheduled for 19th January, while a special gesture to honor the hardworking ground staff took place on 15th January. On this day, the MCA appreciated the efforts of 178 active groundsmen by gifting them a "jumbo household hamper."

A day to remember ❤️

Polly Umrigar Health Camp, interactive sessions with Mr. Ajinkya Naik, Ajinkya Rahane & Dr. Adil Chagla, and a heartfelt felicitation for our groundsmen! 🙌

The event was also graced by MCA President Mr. Ajinkya Naik, Secretary Mr. Abhay Hadap, Jt.… pic.twitter.com/33L6qYZkBE

— Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) (@MumbaiCricAssoc) January 15, 2025

Items in the Jumbo Household Hamper:

Food items:

• • 5 kilograms each of wheat, rice, and dal.

Appliances and kits:

• • Mixer grinder.

  • Medical and hydration kits.

Bags and accessories:

• • Backpack, mini kit bag, and waist pouch.

Kitchen essentials:

• • Tea bags, kettle, and utensils.

Clothing:

• • T-shirt, track pants, shorts, socks, shoes, flip-flops, jackets, sunglasses, caps, and hats.

Personal care:

• • Toothbrush, toothpaste, soaps, hair oil, and comb.

Bedding and weather protection:

• • Bedsheet, pillow, blanket, umbrella, and raincoat.

Stationery:

• • Pens and notepads.

Other essentials:

• • Towels, napkins, sunscreen, and sipper bottles.

Ajinkya Naik, President of the MCA, explained this thoughtful gesture, saying,

“We could have given them money, but we already do that during festivals and games. This time, we wanted to make their day special and memorable by gifting them items that they can use every day. Ground staff are often unnoticed, but they are the heartbeat of every ground and stadium.”

Former and current Mumbai cricketers joined the event, including legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Vinod Kambli, and Sanjay Manjrekar. Current players such as Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, and Prithvi Shaw also marked their presence. The celebration continues to build excitement as the main event on 19th January promises to be a grand affair, with several iconic cricketers coming together to honor this historic occasion.

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The main event will feature cricketing legends from Sachin Tendulkar to Sunil Gavaskar, along with many former Mumbai players, celebrating Wankhede Stadium’s 50th anniversary. Current Mumbai players, including Indian team captain Rohit Sharma, who recently joined Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy camp, are also expected to participate. Rohit extended his wishes for the occasion, making this week-long celebration a truly memorable milestone in Mumbai cricket history.

Mumbai cha raja has a message for you 📹

Book your tickets now➡️ https://t.co/jWi7x1bLi4#Wankhede50 | #MCA | #Mumbai |#Cricket | @ImRo45 pic.twitter.com/dTFbexeEJU

— Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) (@MumbaiCricAssoc) January 15, 2025

Rohit Sharma, who has joined the Mumbai Ranji team to regain form after a challenging Test season at home and in the Australia series, is working on finding his rhythm. While he is part of the Mumbai Ranji team, his inclusion in the playing XI for their first match is not yet confirmed.