On January 31, 2025, a good thing happened at the major cricket game in Pune at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. It was the 4th T20 game where the India and England teams were playing. A large, unique helicopter with spinning blades landed close to the location where they were playing. It was a very special helicopter, and that made the game seem even bigger and more unique.

The major sports location in Maharashtra said they made special spots for very key people and VIPs to get into the stadium. They didn't tell everyone the name of the very important guest, but it is usually someone such as a major leader, a famous person, or someone from the government. To help these important guests get in easily, they made sure the guests came in through gate 2 and gate 5, and they made sure there were no traffic jams just for them.

Some VVIP landed his chopper quite close to MCA stadium. Who is it?#Pune #T20#INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/0b9nn8wXut

— Abhijit Deshmukh (@iabhijitdesh) January 31, 2025

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Helicopter landed for some really special people going to the trade. The people planning the trade did a substantial amount of planning to make it unfathomably amazing for these guests because the issue was a very big problem. The industry included special features to be sure the key people would have a wonderful experience. A large butterfly landed and it was really great. It showed that this game, the 4th T20 match between India and England, was of major importance. A large number of people who love cricket and people who are really special were extremely happy to watch it. Everyone thought it was important, not only the regular fans but also the major leaders.

A very special person came to the cricket game in a costume on January 31, 2025, but they're keeping it a secret who it was. They landed at the large MCA Stadium where the match between India and England was happening. They made the game very special for the special people watching, and having that atmosphere was part of making things really great for them.

While the Indian Test and ODI captain Rohit Sharma is set to return to the Ranji Trophy, it has forced the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) to increase the seating capacity for the upcoming match.

Defending champions Mumbai are ready for the crucial upcoming Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Jammu and Kashmir. Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy BKC (Mumbai) will host the match, starting on January 23. It is a must-win game for both teams to stay in contention for the knockout stage qualification. 

Ajinkya Rahane will continue his leadership role in the Mumbai side for the upcoming group stage match, while the Indian stars Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma are likely to open for the 42-time Ranji Trophy champions.

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There will also be proper security arrangements at BKC too

An MCA source told the Times of India that the regional governing body is increasing the seating capacity for the upcoming Ranji Trophy match due to the presence of Indian stars. In fact, there are also proper security arrangements for the match, while the fans will have to show their I-cards at the entry point.

The source told TOI, "Normally, there are seating arrangements for 100-odd spectators at BKC, but we will have around 500 seats for fans near the ground machinery there. Fans will have to show their I-cards at the entry point. Considering the presence of the India stars, there will also be proper security arrangements at BKC too."

Rohit Sharma is a legend for Mumbai

Rohit Sharma played his last Ranji Trophy match in 2015. So, the upcoming encounter against Jammu and Kashmir will be Rohit’s first Ranji game in almost the last 10 years. With 3941 runs, Rohit is the ninth-leading run-scorer for Mumbai in first-class cricket history. The right-handed batter has an average of 66.79, the highest among the Mumbai batters with 3000+ first-class runs, and he has scored 14 centuries and 15 half-centuries in 65 innings.

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.

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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.

Following the historic 42^nd Ranji Trophy win, the Mumbai Cricket Association decided to double the match fees of its players from next season. A recommendation from the state association to match the fees of BCCI from the domestic circuit has been approved by the MCA apex council meeting.

MCA to double the money

Reportedly, the Mumbai Cricket Association will be paying INR 1.2 lakh a day to its most experienced players. The BCCI at present pays INR 60,000 per day to a player who has played more than 40 Ranji games, INR 50,000 to those who have played between 21 and 40 games and INR 40,000 for those who’ve played up to 20 games. The reserve players get INR 30,000, INR 25,000 and INR 20,000 in the respective categories as well. Now, a senior Mumbai player will be paid INR 6 lakh from a 5-day Ranji game (knockout matches) and up to INR 50 lakh from a season once the team reaches final.

“The MCA proudly announces a groundbreaking initiative aimed at promoting the Ranji Trophy and fostering the growth of red-ball cricket in the Mumbai Cricket jurisdiction,” the MCA said after an Apex Council meeting where the initiative was proposed by association president Amol Kale.

Secretary explains the reason behind the decision

On the other hand, the MCA Secretary Ajinkya Naik said, “The initiative received unanimous support from the Apex Council, reflecting the collective dedication of MCA’s leadership to the advancement of cricket at all levels. It is a testament to the progressive vision of our President and his deep-seated belief in the importance of red-ball cricket as a fundamental aspect of player development.”

The MCA’s continued commitment to keep the enthusiasm for red-ball cricket alive is evident in their action. Last month they matched the prize money of INR 5 crore for the Ranji Trophy winning team as well. “We felt that the player should earn more, especially those who play Ranji Trophy cricket. For us red ball cricket matters the most as the Ranji Trophy holds a special place for everyone in Mumbai,” Kale said.