'MCA is my mother, BCCI is my father' - Sunil Gavaskar felicitated with board room named in his honour at Mumbai HQ

Published - 15 May 2025, 15:37 IST | Updated - 15 May 2025, 15:48 IST

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was felicitated with an honour by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to inaugurate a boardroom named '10000 Gavaskar' at its headquarters in Mumbai, commemorating his iconic feat of becoming the first-ever cricketer to score 10,000 runs in Tests.

In a video shared by the BCCI, Gavaskar was seen inaugurating the room, signing a special Test jersey, and posing with BCCI President Roger Binny and the 1983 World Cup trophy. He was also presented with a bouquet, as a gesture from other board he once represented as a player and now continues to support.

"MCA is my mother, BCCI is my father. Thank you so much appreciate the opportunities that I have got, to be what I am, thanks to Indian cricket. And this honour is a huge honour. I am very thankful to BCCI for this honour. And I would give it my all for BCCI, so any time anything required of me, even at this age, please feel free. 40 years later," Gavaskar was heard saying in a video shared by BCCI.

The tribute is part of BCCI’s initiative to honour Indian cricketing icons, with Sachin Tendulkar also having a room named after him. The board Vice-President Rajeev Shukla, who attended the event, praised both players for their unforgettable contributions to Indian cricket.

"Delighted to be part of the inauguration of the newly dedicated Sachin Tendulkar Room and Sunil Gavaskar Room by @BCCI - a heartfelt tribute to two icons of Indian cricket, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar. Their legacy continues to inspire generations," Shukla said in a post on X.

The former made his debut for Mumbai in the 1966-67 Ranji Trophy season, and burst onto the international scene with a record 774 runs on the 1971 West Indies tour. Over the years, he went on to become the world’s most reliable opener, apart from becoming the first player in the world to breach the 10,000-run landmark in Tests.

Meanwhile, the 75-year-old recently urged the BCCI to conduct the remaining 17 matches of IPL 2025 without cheerleaders and DJs to pay respect to the civilians who lost their lives in the Pahalgam attack. A report has suggested that the board may respect his request and proceed the tournament accordingly.