'Put up your best show for them' - Nita Ambani encourages MI players ahead of ESA game versus LSG

MI owner Nita Ambani recalled a touching interaction she had with a little girl during an ESA game. Hardik and Co. are set to face LSG in another ESA fixture on Sunday, with 19,000 kids in attendance.

By Adreej Kumar Mitra

Updated - 25 Apr 2025, 15:12 IST

3 Min Read

Mumbai Indians’ (MI) will lock horns against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 27. This highly-anticipated encounter will be dedicated to the Education and Sports for All (ESA) initiative championed by Nita Ambani, owner of MI. The annual ESA game is one of the major highlights of every Indian Premier League (IPL) season for the Mumbai Indians as the Wankhede Stadium buzzes with the positive energy of thousands of vibrant children from NGOs across the city cheering for their favourite cricketers.

Before the impending ESA game, Ambani spoke to the MI players, urging them to give their best on Sunday and ensure that the young kids leave the stadium with happy faces.

“People who have been with Mumbai Indians know our next game is very special, we have underprivileged children coming, and the energy is special. So please, put up your best show for them. They wait for years in line to come and see one match," Ambani said in a video uploaded on the official social media handles of MI.

Also Read: What if MS Dhoni played for Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma for CSK?

Ambani also recollected a touching experience she had with a young girl during one of the previous ESA games.

“I was sitting in the stands with all of them, and this girl wasn’t eating much. She was picking at her food. I asked her why, and she said, ‘I’m saving it for my brother, because he’s never tasted cake in his life.’ These are the things that we want to support. We want to inspire these kids, that despite coming from different backgrounds, they can achieve wonders," she said.

Mumbai Indiansverified@mipaltan
Mrs. Nita Ambani speaks to the team ahead of a match that goes beyond cricket. 💙 #ESADay is about playing with heart — for thousands of young dreamers. ✨ Read more about this special day ➡ bit.ly/ESA-Day-2025 #MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #EducationAndSportsForAll |
10:42 AM · Apr 25, 2025
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Hardik Pandya and Co. have managed to turn things around in IPL 2025 after getting off to an abysmal start. They lost four out of their first five games this season. However, they are now on a four-match winning streak and find themselves at No. 4 on the points table.

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