3rd Test: Stadium renaming leaves Gujarat Cricket Association members surprised

President Ram Nath Kovind (centre) felicitates India’s Ishant Sharma (right) yesterday. Pic/PTI

The renaming of Sardar Patel Stadium to Narendra Modi Stadium here at Motera has taken not just the people of India by surprise but also some of the members of Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA).

In a ceremony on Wednesday morning after President Ram Nath Kovind, inaugurated the stadium and laid the foundation stone for the Sardar Patel Sports Enclave, Home Minister Amit Shah revealed that the world's biggest cricket stadium has been named after the Prime Minister of India. "We were not aware that this was happening. I think only a few selected members of the GCA were aware of the renaming of this stadium. Nonetheless, it is a proud moment for us to be associated with the GCA," a committee member told mid-day.

Modi was the GCA president when the idea to rebuild the Motera ground was first mooted. Later, when Modi quit cricket administration after becoming PM, Shah took over the proceedings and oversaw the construction of the 132,000-capacity cricket stadium.

"This stadium is very memorable for Javagal Srinath. He took six wickets against South Africa [in 1996-97]. It was here that Kapil Dev broke Richard Hadlee's tally of [431] wickets. Sunil Gavaskar also achieved the 10,000-run milestone here and Sachin Tendulkar completed 18,000 ODI runs and 20 years in international cricket at this ground. I wish [Cheteshwar] Pujara scores a double century here and helps India win against England," Shah said at the inauguration ceremony.

Ishant Sharma's wife pens tribute to hubby

Ishant Sharma's wife Pratima paid a heartwarming tribute to her husband who played his 100th Test here yesterday. "All the highs and lows, cycles of happiness and sadness, passion and stress, hard work and dedication, discipline, missing parties and attending practices instead and travelling for long periods of time. I have seen you strive for better every day and in every match. It was all worth it love. Wish you many more matches, wickets and wins in future," she wrote on Instagram.
Before the start of the match yesterday, President of India, Ram Nath Kovind and Home Minister, Amit Shah, felicitated the Indian pacer for
achieving the 100-Test milestone with a special memento in the shape of a cap.

Social distancing and masks go for a toss

Although the GCA ensured that no spectator was allowed inside the stadium without a mask and sanitisation was carried out at every junction, the 40,000-odd crowd that witnessed Day One of the third Test between India and England here ignored some basic COVID-19 protocols. Social distancing was not adhered to and most people in the stands took off their masks as the day progressed. Even the policemen deployed in the stands did not correct the erring fans.