Nita Ambani Inspires Mumbai Indians to Spread Joy at ESA Match Day

Mumbai Indians' Special ESA Match Day

On May 24, in Mumbai, Nita Ambani, the founder and chairperson of the Reliance Foundation, motivated the Mumbai Indians to play passionately and bring joy to children during their final match of the Indian Premier League 2026 against the Rajasthan Royals. This match is particularly significant as it is dedicated to the Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative, a flagship program of the Reliance Foundation and Mumbai Indians.

Creating Lasting Memories for Children

For many children, ESA Match Day transcends the experience of merely watching a cricket game. The initiative aims to forge unforgettable memories through sports, education, and inspiration, providing young fans with opportunities they often only dream about.

Mumbai Indians' Current Standing

Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, the Mumbai Indians have faced challenges this season, having been eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoff contention after securing four wins and suffering eight losses in their twelve matches.

Nita Ambani's Encouraging Words

Ahead of the match, Nita Ambani encouraged the players to maintain smiles and spread happiness among the children. She announced that, for the first time, visually impaired children would attend the match as part of the initiative. "Tomorrow is an exciting day. Keep the smiles alive. You all should smile and make the children smile too. We have 20,000 children coming from various underprivileged backgrounds, and for the first time, we will have visually impaired children joining us. They have never been to a stadium before and are eager to hear and feel the excitement of the Mumbai Indians," she stated.

A Heartwarming Story

Nita shared a touching story from a previous ESA match, recounting how a girl, who had a cake in her snack box, refused to eat it until she could share it with her brother, who had never tasted cake. "ESA is active in all Indian states, impacting the lives of 29 million children over the past 16 years. I remember sitting with the children in the stadium, and this girl told me, 'Didi, my brother has never tasted cake before, and I want to save it for him so we can eat it together,'" she recalled.

Promoting Equality and Joy

In her closing remarks, Nita emphasized the importance of equality, stating, "These simple joys are unimaginable. My mission is to spread the message that both girls and boys deserve equal rights to education and sports. I urge you all to promise to spread joy tomorrow. This is a match where I want you to play with your heart. Thank you!"

Overview of the ESA Initiative

Launched in 2010, the ESA initiative has evolved into a leading program in India that promotes education and sports development under Nita Ambani's guidance. It has positively impacted over 29 million children through partnerships with NGOs and ongoing educational and sporting activities.

Believing that every child deserves the right to learn and play, ESA focuses on comprehensive development by enhancing sports infrastructure, coaching, training, and access to equipment across various disciplines.