Feroz Shah Kotla to be renamed Arun Jaitley stadium; Gautam Gambhir says it should have happened while Jaitley was alive
HIGHLIGHTS
• The renaming will take place on September 12 at a function where a stand at the Kotla will be named after India captain Virat Kohli as announced earlier.
• 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.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Tuesday decided to rechristen Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium as Arun Jaitley Stadium in the memory of its former president who passed away on Saturday.
The renaming will take place on September 12 at a function where a stand at the Kotla will be named after India captain Virat Kohli as announced earlier.
Speaking on this initiative, DDCA president Rajat Sharma said: "It was Arun Jaitley's support and encouragement that players like Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Ashish Nehra, Rishabh Pant and many others could make India proud."
Reacting to this development, former India and Delhi cricketer Gautam Gambhir, who had proposed that Arun Jaitley should be honoured by naming the stadium after him a long time ago told TimesofIndia.com, "It's a good thing that the stadium is being named after Arun Jaitley, because he was instrumental in giving Delhites a modern cricket stadium. However, I would have been much happier if this was done when he was still alive, so that he could have seen it himself. That would have been the most fitting tribute."
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 function, to be held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, will be graced by the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.