Once a kid who grew up watching ODIs with his father in Chinnaswamy, now has a stand named after himself in the same stadium

The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has officially recognized the immense contribution of Rahul Dravid by naming a permanent stand after him at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Speaking on the occasion, Dravid described the honor as a "great and humbling" recognition, particularly because the stadium is where he spent his formative years as a young cricketer. "It's a stadium where I have grown up as a kid. It's a huge honour, and I can't be more thankful to the KSCA for doing that," Dravid remarked during the ceremony led by KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad.

Reflecting on a Legacy of Excellence

Dravid’s career remains one of the most prolific in the history of the sport, ranking as India's third-highest all-format run-scorer behind only Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli. Throughout his iconic career, which included captaining the national side, Dravid accumulated a staggering 24,064 runs across 504 international matches. His statistical achievements, including 48 centuries and 145 half-centuries, are now immortalized at the very venue that witnessed his rise from a local talent to a global cricket icon.

Return of Cricket to Bengaluru and Anil Kumble’s Honor

The celebrations at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium also included the naming of a stand after India’s leading wicket-taker, Anil Kumble, who finished his legendary career with 953 international wickets. This dual honor coincides with the stadium celebrating 50 years of hosting international cricket. Furthermore, the event signaled a fresh start for the venue, as the Karnataka state cabinet recently approved the hosting of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches again. Competitive cricket had been suspended at the stadium since June of last year following a tragic stampede during a victory celebration. Dravid expressed his delight at this development, noting that he looks forward to seeing international and league cricket return to the "iconic ground" once more.


(With ANI inputs)