IPL 2026: Nita Ambani sheds light on ESA Day ahead of MI-RR clash

Published - 24 May 2026, 17:36 IST | Updated - 24 May 2026, 17:36 IST

Mumbai Indians took on Rajasthan Royals in their final game of the 2026 IPL. The game is a special occasion for the five-time champions, as it is their annual “ESA Day” fixture. The game sees 20,000 school children fill up the Wankhede Stadium as part of the Reliance Foundation’s ‘Education and Sports for All’ initiative.

In a video posted by the franchise, owner Nita Ambani was shown explaining the history of the franchise’s initiative, which has been a significant activity for the team every year.

"Exciting day tomorrow. Keep the smiles alive. You all also smile and make the children also smile, okay? We have 20,000 children coming from all kinds of underprivileged backgrounds. And for the first time ever, we have the visually challenged, the blind children coming. They can hear and feel the excitement. They have never been to a stadium before. And all that they want to do is to hear Mumbai Indians. All they want to do is feel the excitement that you are going to give them," Ambani said, speaking in a video posted by the Mumbai Indians on social media.

"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚!"A special message to the squad from Mrs Nita Ambani ahead of today's special @ril_foundation #ESAMatchDay! 💙#MumbaiIndians #OneFamily

She touched upon an anecdote from a previous year where a young girl refused to eat the cake, which was part of a snack box given to the children at the venue. She was saving the cake for her brother, who had never previously had the cake in her life. She further urged her team to put on a show for the children that would give them a memory for a lifetime.

"ESA (Education and Sports for All) is present in all the states of India. At this moment, we have touched the lives of 29 million children. As you all know, we have been working for this for the last 16 years. I just have one more story to tell you, is that it is the day I sit with the children in the stadium. And we give them snack boxes. So I'm sitting there and this girl was having her snack box. And she was not eating her cake. And she told me, "Didi, you know what, my brother has never tasted cake before. And I do not want to taste it before him. So I'm saving it for my brother to take it home and both of us will eat together," she said.

"These are just simple joys that you can never imagine. It is my endeavour to spread the message far and wide to say girls and boys, both are equal. And both deserve equal right to education and sport. And I just want you all to have just one promise, and all that we are going to endeavour to do tomorrow is to spread joy to them. This is one match that I want you to play with your heart. Thank you so much,” she added.

The Mumbai Indians have had a torrid season in IPL 2026 and were eliminated early in the tournament. They were able to record just four wins from 13 matches, and have suffered from the form of their big stars. They will be looking to finish their season on a high.