In a fitting tribute to two towering figures in Indian cricket and administration, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has announced that life-size statues of Sunil Gavaskar and Sharad Pawar will grace the entrance of the soon-to-be-inaugurated MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum. The museum, located at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, is scheduled to open in the second half of August and will serve as a celebration of Mumbai’s illustrious cricketing legacy.
According to the official release, visitors entering the museum will be welcomed by statues of Pawar, the veteran administrator and former BCCI and ICC president, and Gavaskar, the batting legend who helped define Indian cricket’s golden era. The MCA described Gavaskar’s statue as “a symbol of excellence and dedication,” aimed at inspiring the next generation of Mumbai’s young cricketers.
Reacting to the honour, Gavaskar expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “I am deeply touched and tremendously honoured that my ‘mother association,’ the MCA, has chosen to place a statue of mine at the entrance of the new museum. It was MCA that held my hand when I first picked up a bat, and it was the BCCI that helped me take flight and live my dream of playing for India. This is a recognition I will cherish forever.”
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Sharad Pawar, whose influence has spanned across politics and cricket, is being commemorated not just for his tenure as MCA and BCCI president but also for his contributions as head of the ICC. Currently leading the Nationalist Congress Party, Pawar’s association with cricket has remained steady through the decades.
🏏 Mumbai Cricket Association will install statues of Sunil Gavaskar and Sharad Pawar at it’s upcoming museum’s entrance@toi_gauravG reports:https://t.co/gJLvDVYrsj
— TOI Sports (@toisports) August 1, 2025
The museum will house a rich collection of memorabilia, personal items from Mumbai cricketers, and an immersive audio-visual experience chronicling the evolution and achievements of Mumbai cricket.
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MCA President Ajinkya Naik emphasised the museum’s importance, stating, “The MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum is more than a structure; it is a heartfelt tribute to Mumbai cricket’s heritage and the visionary leadership of Shri Sharad Pawar. The statue of Shri Sunil Gavaskar, one of Indian cricket’s greatest, stands as a beacon of excellence, perseverance, and ambition—ideals that will continue to inspire generations of aspiring cricketers.”
This upcoming tribute at Wankhede is not just a salute to the past but a message to the future—where cricket legends and administrators are celebrated not only for their contributions but for the dreams they continue to ignite.
