The Mumbai Cricket Association took a significant step in preserving cricket history on Saturday. They unveiled life-size statues of legendary India captain Sunil Gavaskar and former MCA and BCCI president Sharad Pawar.
Alongside the statues, the association inaugurated a museum and revived the vintage Kanga League library; blending cricketing history with a local Mumbai touch.
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The museum also features elements like a miniature BEST bus and train section - celebrating the city’s unique culture and the daily grind of Mumbaikars.
MCA unveils Sunil Gavaskar statue
Gavaskar - visibly moved by the ceremony, shared his feelings after seeing his statue outside the museum.
"It doesn't happen to everybody that there's a statue just outside the museum, where there's going to be so much more footfall to see the museum. Every time you enter the museum to see the statue, it's something unique. I am overwhelmed. Mumbai has always been like my mother, guiding me from my school cricket days," Gavaskar said.
SUNIL GAVASKAR STATUE AT SHARAD PAWAR CRICKET MUSEUM IN WANKHEDE. 🐐
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 23, 2025
- Great work by MCA to celebrate the career of Legendary Sunil Gavaskar. pic.twitter.com/mzyeFy60fL
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The MCA president Ajinkya Naik explained the process behind Gavaskar's statue - which captures his iconic batting shot that led him to surpass 10,000 Test runs.
"We sent him a few photographs and he chose this one. A lot of thought has gone into building this museum. We wanted the next generation to witness our rich history and the hard work each one has put in," Naik said.
Sunil Gavaskar recalls Dadar Union cap story
During the ceremony, Gavaskar reminisced about wearing his Dadar Union club cap during the 1981 Melbourne Test against Australia.
"I was superstitious, and that cap was lucky. Kapil Dev had taken injections for his injury, and it was touch-and-go. Wearing that cap, we beat Australia that day. It's more than just a club cap - it's part of our cricketing history," Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar also highlighted his connection with the Kanga League library which houses vintage and sporting books.