The Wankhede Stadium, an iconic symbol of Indian cricketing heritage, commemorated its 50th anniversary with a wave of nostalgia as cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar reminisced about his cherished memories at the historic venue. Constructed in 1974, the stadium has been witness to numerous historic moments in Indian cricket, including Tendulkar's illustrious career milestones, from his Mumbai debut at the age of 10 to his triumphant 2011 World Cup victory and emotional farewell to the sport.
Sharing his sentiments on social media, Tendulkar expressed his profound connection to the Wankhede Stadium, fondly recalling the pivotal role it played in shaping his cricketing journey: “𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙠𝙝𝙚𝙙𝙚 50 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙊𝙪𝙩! When I witnessed the magic of the Wankhede Stadium for the first time as a 10-year-old boy, little did I know that I would be making my debut for Mumbai against Gujarat at the same venue just five years later. Then the best moment of my career - winning the 2011 World Cup for my country - happened at the Wankhede Stadium as well. I also had the honour of playing my 200th Test match here, which allowed me to bid adieu to my beloved game at the same place where it all started for me. Wankhede has not just been a stadium for me; it has been my second home”.
The Wankhede Stadium, with a seating capacity of approximately 32,000 spectators, has been the stage for 27 ODIs to date. Among these matches, the team batting first has emerged victorious in 14 encounters, while the team batting second has clinched victory in 13 matches. Situated in Mumbai, the stadium is a vibrant hub of cricketing action, often witnessing packed stands, especially during IPL matches and games featuring the Indian Cricket Team.
Known for its high-scoring encounters, the Wankhede Stadium offers a batting-friendly pitch with small boundaries, making it conducive for batsmen to unleash their strokes. However, spinners also find some assistance from the pitch, albeit to a lesser extent, while the size of the boundaries might pose challenges for slower bowlers. Reports suggest that the pitch for the upcoming semi-final is anticipated to be slow, following a request from the Indian team management to the BCCI pitch curator to trim the excess grass on the surface.
In a recent ODI match at the Wankhede Stadium, Afghanistan faced off against Australia, with the latter emerging victorious by three wickets. Afghanistan posted a competitive total of 291 runs, propelled by Ibrahim Zadran's century. Despite reducing Australia to 91/7, Glenn Maxwell orchestrated a remarkable comeback with his double-hundred, steering Australia to victory.
The Wankhede Stadium has witnessed several record-breaking performances in ODIs, with notable milestones etched into its cricketing history. South Africa holds the record for the highest team score at the venue, amassing 438/4 against India in 2015. Conversely, Sri Lanka holds the record for the lowest team score, managing only 55 runs against India in the 2023 World Cup.
Australia's Glenn Maxwell holds the record for the highest individual score at the Wankhede Stadium in ODIs, with his breathtaking knock of 201 runs. Meanwhile, Indian spinner Murali Karthik boasts the best bowling figures at the venue, claiming 6/27 against Australia in 2007.
Among the batsmen, Sachin Tendulkar leads the charts with the most runs at the Wankhede Stadium in ODIs, scoring 455 runs in 11 innings. Former Indian pacer Venkatesh Prasad holds the record for the most wickets at the venue, claiming 15 scalps in six ODIs, with his best figures of 4/27 against South Africa in 1996.