Kotla renamed Arun Jaitley stadium, stand named after Kohli

Along with the tribute to former administrator Jaitley, a stand was named after local boy Virat Kohli who is India’s most successful Test captain.

Virat Kohli addresses the audience at the special tribute event to late BJP leader and former DDCA administrator Arun Jaitley in New Delhi on Thursday.

 

The late Arun Jaitley was paid tribute in a glittering event organised by the Delhi and Districts Cricket Association at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Thursday.

Jaitley was remembered fondly by dignitaries present — including Amit Shah, the Home Minister; and Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports — as DDCA president Rajat Sharma reiterated the association's decision to rename the Feroz Shah Kotla after the former administrator and union minister. Family members of Jaitley were handed mementoes in recognition of his services to cricket in Delhi. “To keep his name immortal, there could not have been a better decision than to rename the stadium after him,” Sharma stated.

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Virat Kohli, another big figure associated with Delhi cricket, was lauded for his success, and a stand was officially named after the India captain. He was depicted as a 'superman' orbiting the earth with his cricketing exploits in a short clip, and presented mementoes alongside other cricketers from Delhi in the Indian team — Shikhar Dhawan, Navdeep Saini, and Rishabh Pant.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah felicitates India captain Virat Kohli in presence of head coach Ravi Shastri (extreme left), DDCA president Rajat Sharma and Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.

 

“In history, there has been no bigger player from Delhi [than Kohli],” Sharma pointed out.

Humbly accepting the recognition, Kohli said, "I had never thought I would be honoured on such a grand scale. It's a proud moment for me and my family. And more special because it has happened at the same time as the recognition given to Shri Arun Jaitley."

Rijiju appreciated the achievements made by Kohli in international cricket, and called on the cricketers and administrators associated with cricket to help spread the culture of sports in the remotest corners of India. "We must work together towards that objective," he stated.

Referring to the 'Fit India’ campaign launched by the government of India, he said, “If [the initiative] is supported by cricket (sic), then it will be a success.”

Shah acknowledged the contributions to cricket made by Jaitley, and felt the decision to rename the stadium was apt as Jaitley played a great role in helping DDCA and the stadium fulfill dreams of many aspirants.

The DDCA also felicitated promising cricketers from Delhi for their success in domestic cricket.