Renowned cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has urged the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to honor the state’s cricketing heroes by naming stands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after them. Despite Karnataka’s rich history of producing exceptional cricketers, the iconic stadium currently lacks such tributes to its legends.
Gavaskar highlighted the precedent set by other renowned stadiums like Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and Feroz Shah Kotla ground in Delhi, which have stands or gates named after celebrated players. He emphasized the contributions of Karnataka’s cricketing stalwarts, both past and present, to Indian cricket.
During a felicitation function for Karnataka’s 1973-74 Ranji Trophy-winning team, Gavaskar emphasized the significance of honoring players like Erapalli Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, Gundappa Viswanath, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, and Javagal Srinath, among others, who have brought glory to Karnataka and Indian cricket.
Reflecting on Karnataka’s historic victory over Mumbai in the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy, Gavaskar recalled how it shattered the notion of Mumbai’s invincibility and inspired cricketing aspirations across the country.
Former Indian captain Rahul Dravid, also present at the event, echoed Gavaskar’s sentiments, emphasizing the inspiration drawn from Karnataka’s triumph over Mumbai and its enduring impact on the trajectory of Karnataka cricket.
Gavaskar’s plea underscores the importance of recognizing and commemorating the invaluable contributions of Karnataka’s cricketing legends, ensuring their enduring legacy at the heart of the state’s cricketing heritage.
