Wankhede Stadium Golden Jubilee: Today (January 19, 2025) is the golden jubilee of Mumbai’s famous Wankhede Cricket Stadium, which was born as a result of intense caste struggle. Due to clashes with the officials of the old Brabourne Stadium (1937) over demanding additional tickets, the Mumbai Cricket Association decided (1975) to build their own separate stadium. This old stadium, named after Lord Michael Brabourne (1939), the British Governor of Bombay State, became colorless then. Wankhede Stadium is the result of self-respect and love for the country. However, the new stadium was completed in less than a year at a cost of Rs 1.87 crore. The stadium was left open on three sides and had a club house and only one stand that could seat 7000 people. Its seating capacity was later increased to 45,000 people.
In fact, Bombay is witness to the fact that the British Raj had conspired to disintegrate India through cricket also. Pentagon cricket competitions were held here during the era of slavery. Hindu, Muslim, Parsi, Christian and European teams competed as sectarian factions. Under the conspiracy of English colonialism. Although the Brabourne Stadium in independent India was Indian, it was in some vested hands. It was then (February 1973). A dispute broke out between the Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly and Bombay Cricket Association President Sheshrao Wankhede and the managers of the Brabourne Stadium over the sharing of tickets for an international match. Then Brabourne Stadium operator Vijay Merchant said to Wankhede: “Why don’t you build your own stadium?” Swadesh devotion became a big issue. Today’s grand new stadium is just the result of Wankhede’s efforts. Undaunted, Wankhede took up the matter with the stadium owners. They were all officials of the powerful Cricket Club of India.
The Brabourne Stadium, with its regal facade, exudes an aura of timeless grandeur. Nestled amidst the bustling streets of South Mumbai, this stadium stands like a relic where cricket greats once graced its immaculate grounds. Famous for its excellent pitch, this stadium has hosted many Test matches between 1948 and 1972.
Such was the charisma of Chairman Wankhede that the first match against West Indies was played in this newly constructed stadium (1975). It was due to the charismatic hard work of the workers that the stadium was ready on time. Vijay Merchant himself (of Brabourne Stadium), who had ridiculed Wankhede, was surprised at the demand for only 1500 tickets: “Such a big target in such a short time?”
Even so, the late eighteenth president of Bombay Pradesh Cricket Association, Sheshrao Krishnarao Wankhede, was more of a studious person. He belonged to the Dalit Mahar caste, like Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar. He studied law in England and then joined Gandhiji in the Indian freedom struggle. Although in 1942, Ambedkar was a minister in the British Viceroy’s government. Wankhede was also the Mayor of Nagpur and Deputy Speaker of Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Later, when Nagpur joined Maharashtra, he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in Mumbai.
He was very friendly. Being then a reporter for “Times of India” in Mumbai, I was taken to him by my senior colleague Sanjeev Bangera. I remember Wankhede ji used to give interesting news on every meeting. Like even today, regarding the stadium on its fiftieth anniversary.
