R ARIVANANTHAM
MUMBAI, MAY 25
The iconic Wankhede Stadium transformed into a roaring “Sea of Blue” on Sunday as more than 20,000 children erupted in joy, chants and celebration during the annual Education and Sports for All (ESA) game hosted by the Mumbai Indians in partnership with Reliance Foundation.
On #ESADay, Mrs. Nita Ambani, Founder & Chairperson, Reliance Foundation, joined children in the stands for the special annual match outing at the #MumbaiIndians game 💙
An evening filled with cheers, excitement and unforgettable memories for 20,000 children. The happiness in… pic.twitter.com/1OQDVZ4HEd
— Reliance Foundation (@ril_foundation) May 24, 2026
In what turned out to be one of the most emotional and heartwarming spectacles of the IPL season, children from across Maharashtra — including visually impaired and specially-abled children — experienced the thrill of a live cricket match, many for the very first time.
At the centre of the celebrations was Nita M. Ambani, whose long-standing vision of inclusion through sports and education once again came alive in spectacular fashion.
- Over 20,000 children turned Wankhede Stadium into a vibrant carnival of hope, inclusion and celebration
- 100 visually impaired children attended the ESA game for the first time along with hearing buddies
- More than 200 specially-abled children joined the annual Mumbai Indians initiative
- Reliance Foundation says its sports and education programmes have impacted over 29 million children across India
- Massive logistical effort included 550 BEST buses, 2,400 volunteers, 92,000 food boxes and extensive police deployment
Speaking amid the electrifying atmosphere inside the stadium, Mrs. Ambani said the ESA game remains one of the most cherished days for the Mumbai Indians family.
“First, I must say, look at the joy. The excitement here is so wonderful to experience. It is a very cherished day for all of us at Mumbai Indians. We started ESA by Reliance Foundation 16 years ago and inclusion has always been a part of our ethos,” she said.
The most touching moment of the evening came when Mrs. Ambani recalled her interaction with children from the National Association for the Blind, whose dream of attending an IPL match eventually became reality.
“I was visiting the National Association for the Blind. I have been working with those children for the last twenty years. This was just before the IPL season, and the children told me, ‘Nita Ma’am, can we please come for the MI match? We have never been to a stadium before and want to feel the excitement of a live match.’ So here they are today. Hundred of them. I hope they go back with cherished memories,” she said emotionally.
The ESA initiative this year brought together children from more than 40 NGO partners spread across Mumbai, Maharashtra and remote regions including Satara, Nashik, Valsad and Igatpuri, reflecting the expanding reach of the programme.
Mrs. Ambani, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee, said Reliance Foundation’s long-term sporting mission goes far beyond cricket and aims to nurture India’s future champions across disciplines.
“We have reached over 29 million children across 28 states of India through our sport and education initiatives. We work with children from the age of five all the way to the global stage. We provide coaching, sports science, and practice facilities. We have high performance centres not just in cricket, but across athletics, football, and many other sports,” she said.
She added that India’s Olympic ambition remains a collective national aspiration.
“Our goal for India is a shared dream that all of us have, is to one day bring the Olympic Games to our country. It is the dream of a billion Indians,” she noted.
Behind the scenes, the scale of operations reflected the mammoth coordination powering the ESA initiative. More than 550 BEST buses ferried children safely to the stadium, aided by over 2,400 volunteers from NGOs, Reliance and Dhirubhai Ambani International School. The event also witnessed deployment of 100-plus medical personnel, distribution of 92,000 food boxes and large-scale crowd management operations.
The Mumbai Police deployed 550 traffic officers and over 450 police personnel to ensure seamless movement and safety throughout the day.
Over the last 16 years, Reliance Foundation’s sports and education programmes have emerged as one of India’s largest grassroots inclusion initiatives, touching the lives of millions of children through opportunity, aspiration and access.
Sunday’s ESA game once again underlined the spirit of Mumbai Indians’ celebrated “#OneFamily” philosophy — where every child, irrespective of ability or background, was made to feel seen, celebrated and included.
