“Maharashtra Honors T20 World Cup Champions with ₹11 Crore Reward”– Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

Special Honor for Captain Rohit Sharma and Teammates in the Legislature

Central Hall Resounds with Chants of Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata Ki Jai.

Mumbai, July 5: “India has proven its supremacy in cricket, with our T20 World Cup-winning team exemplifying this excellence. By pulling victory from the jaws of defeat, Captain Rohit Sharma and his team have filled the hearts of every Indian with pride,” stated Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, showering praise on the victorious Indian team. He also announced a special award of 11 crores from the Maharashtra government for the Indian team. Furthermore, Shinde mentioned that efforts would be accelerated to build a grand and modern stadium in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Captain Rohit Sharma, along with his teammates Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shivam Dube, coach Paras Mhambrey, and team manager Arun Kanade, were specially honored today in the Central Hall of the Legislative Assembly. The packed Central Hall was filled with the jubilant celebration of cricket. The Indian national flag was raised high, and the hall echoed with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram.” The event began with the song “Yeh Jeevan Hai Cricket Raja, Hukla To Sampla” by cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar and the celebratory tunes of “Chak De India!” from the Hindi film, filling the hall with enthusiasm. The atmosphere reached a fever pitch upon the arrival of Captain Rohit Sharma and his teammates.

The special ceremony was attended by Assembly Speaker Adv. Rahul Narwekar, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Dr. Neelam Gorhe, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakantdada Patil, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Sanjay Bansode, MLA Adv. Ashish Shelar, members of both houses, and sports enthusiasts.

Chief Minister Shinde remarked, “When the Indian team defeated Pakistan in this tournament, we had already won half the World Cup. Suryakumar Yadav’s incredible catch led us to victory, igniting celebrations across the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also congratulated the Indian team. This victory has brought pride and honor to the country, and the entire nation is welcoming the team with joy. Yesterday, a sea of people gathered along the Arabian Sea in Mumbai to welcome the winning team. This team has proven that India is a world leader in cricket. Mumbai is the Mecca of cricket, and just as pilgrims flock to Pandharpur for Lord Vithal’s darshan, cricket enthusiasts gathered in Mumbai. Diwali and Dussehra were celebrated in Mumbai yesterday. Four players from Mumbai were part of this winning team, and everyone is proud of Captain Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, the architects of this victory. Notably, this team won the World Cup without losing a single match, marking a historic achievement.”

Highlighting the contributions of Mumbai’s cricket legends, Chief Minister Shinde recalled, “We won the 1983 World Cup thanks to that iconic catch by Kapil Dev. Similarly, Suryakumar Yadav’s catch in this tournament has become an immortal moment for Indians. This World Cup victory symbolizes the aspirations of every Indian. These Mumbai players have made India proud on the global stage, and we hope they continue to bring us such joyous occasions.”

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated, “The Indian team has brought a moment of joy for all of us. An unbeaten team has won the World Cup. Rohit Sharma has achieved remarkable feats, securing his place among the greats of Indian cricket. Following in the footsteps of Kapil Dev and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma has earned his recognition. As a captain, Rohit has earned the trust of his teammates, which is crucial. His leadership style continues the tradition of Indian cricket captains. The Mumbai Cricket Association should now focus on building a modern stadium with a capacity of over one lakh in Mumbai. The turnout to welcome the Indian team was unprecedented, and the Mumbai police did an excellent job of managing the crowd.”

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed satisfaction with the grand ceremony, saying, “We anticipated a miracle, and it happened. The sports enthusiasts of Mumbai are unique. Marine Drive saw an extraordinary crowd. Indians’ love for cricket is unmatched worldwide. Even countries like the USA are now stepping up in cricket. Suryakumar Yadav’s catch was phenomenal. While Rohit Sharma may not play T20s in the future, his legacy will be remembered every time we watch T20 matches.”

Assembly Speaker Adv. Narwekar stated, “The Indian cricket team has given everyone a moment of pride. Cricket helps in the smooth functioning of the legislature. On behalf of the legislature, I extend my best wishes to the players and hope for more glorious moments in the future.”

Deputy Chairperson Dr. Gorhe said, “This is the first time such a grand event is being held in the Legislative Assembly. This ceremony is a tribute on behalf of the people of Maharashtra. Every citizen has expressed their best wishes for the players’ victory. After this unprecedented victory, it is essential to come together for progress in all fields, not just cricket.”

During the event, Chief Minister Shinde honored Captain Rohit Sharma and the players with a unique trophy, a memento from the Legislature, a seated statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a shawl, and a bouquet of flowers. Captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shivam Dube expressed their gratitude. They said, “We are proud to be Maharashtrians. We are delighted with this felicitation ceremony. We will never forget the welcome we received yesterday and today. The Mumbai police did an excellent job of managing the event. Winning the World Cup was our dream, and we achieved it through the collective efforts of all the players.” They thanked the organizers for arranging the event.

Nilesh Madane, Public Relations Officer of the Legislature, conducted the program.