For Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians’ annual Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative represents something far more meaningful than just another IPL fixture at the Wankhede Stadium. The MI superstar believes the event is about creating unforgettable memories for thousands of underprivileged children while also highlighting the importance of education through sport. The ESA initiative, organised in partnership with the Reliance Foundation and envisioned by Mrs. Nita M Ambani, has become one of the most heartwarming traditions in the IPL calendar.
Every season, the Mumbai Indians dedicate one home game entirely to children from NGOs, tribal communities, villages, special needs schools and underserved backgrounds. Speaking about the initiative, Rohit Sharma explained why the cause remains extremely close to his heart. “Very, very important. All these years, I’ve been very vocal about it. I think education is such an important part of our life. And raising awareness around it is also very, very important,” Rohit said.
Unlike a regular IPL matchday, no tickets are sold for the ESA fixture. Instead, the entire Wankhede Stadium experience is reserved exclusively for children, giving them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch their cricketing heroes live.
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This year, more than 20,000 children are expected to attend the special game, including visually impaired children from the National Association for the Blind (NAB) alongside hearing buddies for the very first time. Rohit credited the Reliance Foundation for continuing to grow the initiative and making it accessible to children from diverse backgrounds.
“Credit to the Reliance Foundation for bringing it out there for the world to see it. And especially those 20,000-odd kids who come and watch the game; it’s very special for us and every year, we try to make it special for them,” he added.
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For many of these children, the ESA match is filled with unforgettable first-time experiences — their first visit to Mumbai, their first time inside a massive cricket stadium and their first chance to witness IPL stars in person. Rohit admitted that these moments resonate deeply with the players as well.
“For them to come and experience a cricket match is something very exciting for them and us too. Because we know, as kids, it was very tough for us to get into a stadium and watch a game live. It’s a surreal experience,” he recalled.
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Hundreds of volunteers, BEST bus staff, police personnel, medical teams and NGO workers come together every year under Mumbai Indians’ “One Family” spirit to ensure the children enjoy a memorable day at Wankhede.
“We want to give you something to take back home,” Rohit Sharma said. “All these kids are very, very enthusiastic about the team, about how we play. They come and cheer nonstop for three to four hours, which is not easy. So, we want to make it very special for them.”
