NEW DELHI: An emotional Rohit Sharma, with tears in his eyes, expressed heartfelt gratitude to his parents on Friday before guiding them onto the stage at Wankhede Stadium to unveil the stand named in his honour. In that moment, Rohit wasn’t the cricketing icon the world knows, but simply a devoted son paying tribute to the sacrifices his parents made for his dreams to take flight.Adding a touch of warmth to the occasion, Rohit shared a light-hearted moment with his long-time fan, Dipak Patel. Spotting him waving the Indian flag at the venue, Rohit paused for a brief chat and a photo. As Dipak followed him enthusiastically, the cricketer jokingly pretended to throw a punch, evoking smiles and laughter from those around.Rohit then stood beside his parents and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as they pressed the switch that revealed the “Rohit Sharma Stand” — a moment made even more spectacular by colourful fireworks and a confetti shower.Rohit’s wife, Ritika, stood proudly by his side, her beaming smile reflecting the pride of the occasion.“It’s going to be even more special, to have my family here, parents, brother, wife. I am grateful and thankful for whatever they have sacrificed for me,” Rohit said during the ceremony organised by the Mumbai Cricket Association.

Also honoured with stands were former India captain Ajit Wadekar and ex-BCCI president Sharad Pawar, placing Rohit’s name alongside stalwarts of Indian cricket.For Rohit, the moment marked the realisation of a childhood dream — to be counted among the legends of the game.He was visibly thrilled.“What is going to happen today, I have never dreamed of. As a kid growing up, I wanted to play for Mumbai, for India. For me to have my name amongst the greats of the game, I cannot express it in words.

“This is also special as I am still playing. I have retired from two formats, but I am still playing one format,” he said.Despite all he has achieved, Rohit admitted there’s one more milestone he hopes to tick off.“It will be surreal when I play on 21st (for Mumbai Indians in IPL) and have a stand here, it will be special when I represent the country here,” he added, hinting at his wish to play an ODI at Wankhede.Having already stepped away from T20Is and Test cricket, Rohit’s legacy continues to grow — both on and off the field.