Delhi’s premier cricket stadium to be named after Arun Jaitley
Jaitley, during his tenure at DDCA, is credited with renovating the stadium into a modern facility, increasing its capacity to accommodate more fans besides constructing world class dressing rooms.
The cricket stadium encompassing the capital’s famous Ferozeshah Kotla Ground will be named after former Union minister Arun Jaitley, who died on Saturday, in recognition of his contribution to the game as an administrator of the sport.
The former Union finance minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2008 to 2013 and president of the Delhi and District Cricket Association from 1999 to 2013. The city’s premier cricket stadium will be called Arun Jaitley Stadium.
“The stadium had no name, so we decided to name it Arun Jaitley Stadium in recognition of his contribution to Delhi cricket. The ground will continue to be called Ferozeshah Kotla ground,” DDCA president Rajat Sharma told Hindustan Times.
Also Watch | Big Picture | Congress’ Abhishek Singhvi reflects on the Arun Jaitley years
Also read: Ramesh Powar named India A bowling coach for South Africa series
Sharma said the naming will be done at a ceremony on September 12 when the Virat Kohli Stand will also be unveiled.
“It will be a spectacular ceremony where Union home minister Amit Shah and sports minister Kiren Rijiju as well as the entire Indian cricket team will be present. The entire membership of DDCA has also been invited along with all international cricketers (from Delhi) like {Virender} Sehwag, {Gautam} Gambhir, etc. Kapil Dev will also be there,” Sharma said.
The proposal to name the stadium after Jaitley came from DDCA members and international cricketers, he said. “The suggestion was coming from various quarters, members, various international cricketers and eminent citizens, people who have known Mr Jaitley and who have been connected with cricket. They all wanted to pay tribute and what better way to do that to a man who has contributed so much to Delhi cricket,” added Sharma.
The stadium was renovated during Jaitley’s tenure as DDCA chief. The first international match after the renovation was held in 2005 when India played Pakistan.
Kotla has hosted international cricket since 1948, and is one of the original Test venues of the country. It has staged 34 Tests, 25 One-Day Internationals and five T20 Internationals. Currently it is home to the Delhi Ranji team and the Delhi Capitals Indian Premier League franchise.
Gambhir, who is the East Delhi Lok Sabha MP, had earlier suggested that the Yamuna Sports Complex be renamed after Jaitley.
