For Sachin Tendulkar, the Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative has always been about much more than cricket. Ahead of Mumbai Indians’ annual ESA fixture at the Wankhede Stadium, the batting legend opened up about a childhood memory that continues to stay with him decades later and explained why this campaign holds such emotional value.
Speaking before the Mumbai Indians’ clash against the Rajasthan Royals, Sachin Tendulkar said the ESA game creates a unique atmosphere even for professional cricketers who are used to performing in front of packed stadiums.“The ESA match at the Wankhede Stadium is always a special match for all of us,” Tendulkar said.
“After having played for so many years, we know that we can handle big crowds. That’s what we are used to. But I don’t think players can turn around and say that every now and then we get 25,000 children sitting in the stands cheering for us. That’s a unique experience for players also.”
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As part of Reliance Foundation’s Education and Sports for All initiative, more than 20,000 children from underserved communities, tribal regions, villages and special-needs schools across Maharashtra, Mumbai and Gujarat will attend the match at Wankhede. The initiative, envisioned by Nita M. Ambani, has become one of the most heartwarming traditions associated with the IPL.
This year’s event will also include 100 visually impaired children from the National Association for the Blind (NAB), accompanied by hearing buddies, making the experience even more inclusive. Tendulkar then reflected on a personal memory from 1983 that shaped his own connection with cricket and Wankhede Stadium.
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“This was in 1983 when the great West Indian team had come to India and were playing a match in Mumbai. I was sitting in the North Stand, cheering for India,” he recalled. “That experience has stayed with me, and I’ve got some amazing memories. And so would be the case with all these children over the years, who’ve been coming to the stadium to support the Mumbai Indians.”
For Tendulkar, the long-term impact of ESA goes far beyond one evening at a cricket stadium. He believes such experiences can inspire children and positively shape their futures.
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“They are the future of this country, and whatever we can possibly do today to help shape their future, it’s going to have a great impact on our nation in the time to come,” Sachin Tendulkar said. “So let us all put our best foot forward, support and encourage these children. They are our future.”
More than 500 buses, 2,000 volunteers, medical teams, police personnel and over one lakh food boxes have been arranged to ensure the children enjoy a memorable day at the Wankhede Stadium.
