ESA Match Day at Wankhede Stadium to Unite Over 20,000 Children for an Inclusive Cricket Celebration Featuring Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals

Every year, ESA Match Day transforms Wankhede Stadium into far more than a cricket venue. This Sunday, May 24, as Mumbai Indians face Rajasthan Royals, more than 20,000 children from underserved backgrounds, tribal communities, and villages across Mumbai, Maharashtra, and Gujarat will gather for the Education and Sports for All initiative in partnership with Reliance Foundation, marking a large-scale celebration of hope, inclusion, and the unifying power of sport. The event will also include more than 200 children with special needs.

The initiative, envisioned by Mrs Nita M. Ambani, continues to serve as a driving force behind several transformative programmes in sport and education. This year marks a historic first, with 100 visually impaired children from the National Association for the Blind participating alongside hearing buddies, further strengthening the event’s commitment to accessibility and inclusion.

Speaking ahead of the ESA match, Sachin Tendulkar said, “The ESA Match at Wankhede is a special game for all of us. You do not often get to play in front of a stadium full of children cheering for you — that energy is truly unique. I still remember watching a match at Wankhede as a child in 1983, and the memories stayed with me forever. I am sure these children will carry these moments with them for life, too.”

The scale of coordination behind the event reflects a citywide effort. More than 500 BEST and private buses will transport children from across Mumbai and Maharashtra. The arrangements are supported by medical teams, police personnel, and traffic officers, along with more than 2,000 volunteers from non-governmental organisations and Reliance. Over 100,000 food boxes will be distributed, supported by extensive on-ground staff to ensure safety and seamless execution.

As the children enter Wankhede Stadium, the atmosphere will extend beyond the boundaries of competitive cricket, with cheers reflecting dreams, inclusion, and opportunity. The ESA initiative, driven by Reliance Foundation and Mumbai Indians, continues to use cricket as a platform to connect education and sport with grassroots access and opportunity.

Over the past 16 years, Reliance Foundation’s ESA programmes have impacted more than 29 million children across 28 states in India, building pathways for talent, ambition, and holistic development. At its core, ESA stands as a sustained effort to promote inclusion, joy, and hope by ensuring that every child has the opportunity to dream through sport and education.