Sunil Gavaskar is truly India's global cricket ambassador. The batting legend, who has stadiums named after him in Kentucky in the US and Tanzania's Zanzibar, has added yet another feather to his well-adorned cap as a cricket ground in England's Leicester will have his name on Saturday. It's a 5-acre sports field and Gavaskar is the first Indian cricketer to have a ground named after him in England or anywhere in Europe.
Gavaskar (73), who is in London, told TOI on Thursday, "I am delighted and honoured that a ground in Leicester is being named after me. Leicester is a city with possibly the strongest supporters of the game, especially Indian cricket, and therefore it is a huge honour indeed."
Gavaskar will travel to Leicester to unveil his name plaque at the ground, which belongs to Bharat Sports and Cricket Club. His giant image has already been painted on one entire wall of the pavilion.
The initiative came from Keith Vaz, the UK's longest-serving MP of Indian origin who has represented Leicester in the UK parliament for 32 years. Vaz now heads a diaspora organisation named Integration Foundation.
"We are thrilled and honoured that Gavaskar has agreed to have this pitch and ground named after him. He is a living legend and over the years, has delighted Indians and other lovers of cricket with his record-breaking performances. To us, he is not just the 'Little Master', he is a great master of the game. Nothing delights the Indian population of Leicester more than when an all-time great visits us. There is now a part of Britain that is forever Gavaskar," Vaz said.
The development comes close on the heels of a stadium being built in the name of the former Indian skipper in Zanzibar. The Kentucky stadium was named after him in 2017. Gavaskar is the first batsman to go past 10,000 runs in the Test cricket and once held the record for most runs and most centuries in Tests.
Rash Patel from Bharat Sports and Cricket Club said, "We have been in existence for 68 years. We could not think of a better role model for our young players than Gavaskar. It is wonderful that he has agreed to our plans. It is so special for future generations of cricketers."
