“At a Loss for Words” – Sunil Gavaskar Honored with Life-Size Statue at Wankhede Stadium

Former Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was deeply moved and left speechless when his life-size statue was unveiled at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. The ceremony coincided with the inauguration of the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum, where Gavaskar’s statue now stands alongside that of former BCCI and ICC president Sharad Pawar. The museum, which will officially open to the public on September 22, promises to be a hub celebrating India’s rich cricketing history.

Gavaskar, widely regarded as one of the greatest opening batsmen in the history of cricket, was the first player ever to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket—a milestone he achieved in Ahmedabad against Pakistan in 1987. Addressing the audience at the event, Gavaskar expressed that having a statue in his honor was a profoundly special moment, and he dedicated this recognition to his long and storied journey with Mumbai cricket.

Speaking about his emotions, Gavaskar said he was completely speechless after seeing his life-size statue. He described it as a unique honor, noting that few players get such recognition outside a renowned cricket museum that will be visited by countless cricket enthusiasts. Reflecting on his journey, he compared the Mumbai Cricket Association to a mother figure, as it supported him from his early school-level cricket days, through representing Bombay schools, and later competing in the Ranji Trophy. Gavaskar acknowledged that representing Mumbai had always been a privilege, and he never imagined receiving such a monumental tribute. The unveiling also brought back fond memories of reaching his 10,000th run in Test cricket, a moment that still evokes immense happiness for him. He dedicated the statue to everyone who played alongside him—whether during his childhood games in Tardeo’s Bhagirathi building, school cricket, club matches, the Ranji Trophy, or international fixtures.

Dadar Union Taught Me Life Lessons: Gavaskar Reflects on His Cricketing Roots

The museum will also showcase two of Gavaskar’s most treasured caps—one from Mumbai and the other from the Dadar Union Sports Club, which holds a special place in his heart. Gavaskar fondly recalled wearing that cap during India’s famous 1981 Test victory against Australia in Melbourne, a match remembered for Kapil Dev’s heroic bowling despite being unwell.

“Dadar Union taught me so much—that cricket is bigger than any individual, that you should never take the game for granted, and that giving back to the sport is important. I wore my Dadar Union cap the day India beat Australia in 1981 by 59 runs in the third Test. Kapil Dev came in to bowl at Melbourne even though he was unwell the day before. He took painkillers and bowled, taking five wickets for 28 runs. It was a tense situation—I’m superstitious, as you probably know—so I chose to wear my lucky Dadar Union cap instead of the India cap. Australia still needed around 60-80 runs and had already lost three wickets, so I trusted my lucky cap to help that day,” Gavaskar recalled.

The MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum, with Gavaskar’s life-size statue as one of its key attractions, will not only honor the contributions of Indian cricket legends but also inspire generations of young cricketers who visit. For Gavaskar, this moment is a celebration of his journey, his mentors, teammates, and the city of Mumbai, which played an integral role in shaping him into the cricketing icon he is today.