15 April,2026 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Hemal Ashar
Rahul Ramugade and Siddharth Mhatre in the Corporate Box; (right) Ramugade watches a match at Wankhede Stadium
Rahul Ramugade, captain of the Mumbai wheelchair cricket team, cheered as the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) honoured icons by naming three gates after cricketers at Wankhede Stadium - Dilip Sardesai (Gate 3), Diana Edulji (Gate 5), and Eknath Solkar (Gate 6) - on Thursday, April 9. A stand has been named after cricketer-commentator Ravi Shastri.
Said Ramugade, "Wankhede is not just a stadium; it is an emotion. It is moving that legends have been honoured through these dedications. While cheering this, I cannot help but think that even a small, dedicated stand for wheelchair cricketers and fans remains a distant dream. Currently, we do have wheelchair access to a part of the Vijay Merchant Stand at ground level. This stand, though, does not offer good visibility as it is very low. Whether we sit in our wheelchairs inside the stand or get up and occupy seats - which a few of us can actually do - visibility is substantially compromised by the LED boundary screens. The wheelchair seating platform height could be raised by three feet, and a ramp be constructed for access."
Wheelchair users in the Vijay Merchant Stand; (right) The cricket pitch from wheelchair users' point of view. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Wheelchair cricketers said a washroom outside the stand is not easily accessible, and even if they manage to gain entry, the stalls inside do not accommodate wheelchairs. "We need washrooms for people with disabilities at Wankhede," they said.
Siddharth Mhatre, a wheelchair user from Dadar, said, "My experience at Wankhede Stadium has always been filled with excitement, but it has also shown me two very different realities: electric atmosphere, accessibility challenges."
He had to request the MCA to arrange a portable ramp for the February 7, 2026, T20 World Cup match between India and USA to enter the corporate box. Ramugade, his friend, took the initiative and pushed for it. Though the ramp was eventually arranged, Mhatre was taken aback at how something so basic had not been put in place. "When proper accessibility is available, the entire experience changes. It gives us independence, comfort and the ability to fully enjoy the game without barriers," he said.
Ajinkya Naik, MCA president, said, "Wankhede Stadium was built 50 years ago. It was refurbished in 2011. In the last three years, we have made conscious efforts to improve accessibility by creating easier access points and dedicated spaces for wheelchair users in the office buildings at Wankhede Stadium and in select areas of the stadium. Going forward, depending on the demand, we will seek required permissions from the departments concerned and take necessary steps to further enhance accessibility."
The Mumbai Wheelchair Cricket Team won the West Zone final of the National Wheelchair Cricket Championship 2026, defeating Maharashtra by 75 runs at Pune's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and qualified for the Mega Knockouts of the competition, to be held in Delhi from May 3 to May 10.
