M.Chinnaswamy Stadium: As this year marks 50 years of Karnataka winning the Ranji Trophy, CM Siddaramaiah has requested the KSCA to name the stands at the Chinnaswamy Stadium after the three cricketers who played a key role in winning the Ranji Trophy.

In a letter to KSCA president Raghuram Bhatt A on April 4, the CM asked the cricket body to “consider naming the stands after GR Viswanath (Gundappa Viswanath), EAS Prasanna (Erapalli Prasanna) and BS Chandrasekhar (Bhagwath Chandrasekhar). Which will inspire and encourage the upcoming cricketers of the state”. After receiving the letter from the CM, Bhatt said that some formality is needed to make the change, so he will take a decision on it after the IPL match is over.

Let us tell you that, historian Ramachandra Guha had recently requested the Chief Minister to urge KSCA to name the stands of Chinnaswamy Stadium after these legends. After which the CM accepted his point and wrote this letter to the board.

These three played important roles in India’s first wins in England and West Indies: Guha

The famous trio was part of the Karnataka team that won its first Ranji Trophy title in 1973-74 and recently celebrated its golden jubilee. In a letter to Siddaramaiah on March 29, Guha said that these three players had also ‘played equally brilliant roles in India’s first Test victories in West Indies and England.

He wrote, “In Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and other places, the main cricket stadiums are named after great players from that city or state. Yet, there are no stands in the names of Vishi, Prasad and Chandra in Bengaluru. On behalf of the cricket fans of the state, I urge you and the KSCA to name the stand after these three great cricketers who have upheld the spirit of the game on and off the field.”

Guha has also suggested if KSCA does not agree to change the name.

“If KSCA does not agree to this, I would like to suggest that the state government name the roads adjacent to the stadium after him.”

Guha is not the only person to say this. Recently, at a felicitation ceremony of the 1974 Karnataka Ranji team, former cricketer Sunil Gavaskar shared this through a video. He had said-

“I hope that on the occasion of this golden jubilee, KSCA will name some of the stands at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium after these legendary players and honor them, especially those who won the Ranji Trophy for the first time, Prasanna, BS Chandrasekhar, Gundappa Vishwanath….”