After nearly 25 years, Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane is all set to host a cricket match. The stadium used to stage Ranji Trophy matches in the '90s.
This year, the stadium will host a senior men’s domestic game after a gap of almost 25 years, when a few games of the Vijay Hazare Trophy will be held in December.
After being completely renovated, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) had last year held a four-day Under-23 CK Nayudu Trophy match between Mumbai and Bengal, followed by 12 games of the women’s senior one-day championship in the last few years.
The MCA attributes the Thane stadium’s refurbishment to Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde and Thane mayor Naresh Mhaske.
Mumbai’s tryst with cricket has been a lifelong love affair. The Bombay Gymkhana holds the honour of hosting the first Test match played on Indian soil in December 1933, where Punjab’s Lala Amarnath made a name for himself as the first Test century-scoring Indian. The Pentagular Trophy tournaments made way for the Ranji Trophy premier domestic matches in 1946.
In the 82-year-long history of Ranji, Mumbai has won more titles than the rest of India put together. Azad Maidan was also immortalised when Shardashram Vidyamandir’s Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli carved out a record-breaking 664/not out partnership while playing for the Harris Shield 1988.
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