On Sunday, April 27, the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will square off at the Wankhede Stadium.
The Education and Sports for All (ESA) campaign, supported by Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani, will be the focus of this much awaited match. Thousands of energetic kids from NGOs all around the city are screaming for their beloved cricket players at the Wankhede Stadium, making the annual ESA game one of the Mumbai Indians’ main highlights of every Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Ambani urged the MI players to give it their all on Sunday and make sure the little children left the stadium smiling before the upcoming ESA match.
“Those who have watched the Mumbai Indians know that the energy at our upcoming game is unique and that we have disadvantaged kids attending. So please, give them your best performance. In a video posted on MI’s official social media accounts, Ambani stated, “They wait years in queue to come and see one match.”
During one of the earlier ESA games, Ambani also recalled a heartwarming moment she shared with a young girl.
“This girl wasn’t eating much while I was in the stands with everyone else. Her meal was being picked at. “I’m saving it for my brother, because he’s never tasted cake in his life,” she explained when I questioned why. We wish to support these initiatives. We want to show these students that they can accomplish great things even though they come from diverse backgrounds,” she stated.
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 ➡ https://t.co/kCwdd4FvgM#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #EducationAndSportsForAll |… pic.twitter.com/BzyN3quhvj
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 25, 2025
After a terrible start, Hardik Pandya and company were able to turn things around in the 2025 Indian Premier League. In their opening five games of the season, they suffered four defeats. They are currently at No. 4 in the standings, though, after winning four straight games.