One World One Family Cup 2025: Cricket for Cause helmed by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai concludes, One World (India) lifts the trophy

08 February 2025, Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli: In the most perfect exemplification of sports serving humanity, several retired cricketing greats converged at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli near Bengaluru for the second edition of the One World One Family Cup on Saturday. 

The OWOF Cup, aimed at serving humanity by enabling Nutrition, Health and Education for all, is part of the Cricket for a Cause initiative of Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission (SMSGHM).

2025 is the second edition of the cup that saw an iconic clash featuring Indian and Sri Lankan stalwarts. Namely, Venkatesh Prasad, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Marvan Atapattu, Aravinda De Silva, Muthiah Muralitharan, Arjuna Ranatunga and Chaminda Vaas, among others.

Sharing the vision behind the unique initiative, Global Humanitarian, Spiritual Leader and role model to many, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai said, “The One World One Family Cup is not merely a match, it is a collective effort by the SMSGHM mission and the cricketing fraternity to uplift the lives and livelihoods of millions who are deprived of even basic essentials like education, health and nutrition. We intend to make a significant difference by spearheading several such novel initiatives that ultimately serve the cause of humanity. I am elated that everyone took some time out of their busy lives to share a strong message of unity, compassion and concern, collective responsibility and camaraderie, beyond the borders.”

Former Indian cricketer, Dr Sunil Gavaskar, who presided over the match, added, “This Cricket for a Cause is an occasion to celebrate humanity and support a mission making a difference in millions of lives worldwide. Cricket in itself has never been just a sport in India, rather it has always been revered as a religion, and nothing can be better than cricketing icons coming together to support and uplift humanity. We thank Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai for this phenomenal opportunity for us to get together for some excellent cricket and noble cause spread across 80 countries. We hope to return next year for the third edition of the One World One Family Cup.”

Venkatesh Prasad, Captain, One World (India)remarked, “It was great fun to be on the field once again and play for a humanitarian cause. Ultimately the win and the loss don’t matter here, as those in need will benefit from the proceeds of the match. We are humbled to be associated with SMSGHM who are dedicated to ensuring morning nutrition meals for children, healthcare and education for free for the ones who are needy. Ultimately, the bigger goal is to become a part of the One World One Cup family to promote humanity and lend a helping hand to the phenomenal global initiative spearheaded by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai.”

“It is an honour for the Sri Lankan cricketers to associate with SMSGHM and contribute to the noble cause of nutrition, education and healthcare. It truly feels like we are all coming together to serve humanity through the One World One Cup. The match is a classic example of how cricket can bring together two countries and several individuals to promote a good cause. We are looking forward to more such opportunities of helping humanity through cricket”, said Marvan Atapattu, Captain, One Family (Sri Lanka).

The 2025 One World One Family Cup is engraved with the message – vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam – the World is one Family. Sri Madhusudan Sai also announced the setting up of the Vishwanath-Gavaskar Cricket Academy for Boys at Sri Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli. The free-of-cost residential cricket academy for boys on the campus will be named after the legendary cricketers and the selection criteria will be purely on merit and will be free of charge for deserving candidates.

Under the able captaincy of Venkatesh Prasad, One World (India) clinched a thrilling victory by 6 runs. But in the spirit of One World One Family, this match had no losers—only winners united by the love for the game and a shared commitment to humanity. Some win, some lose, but that’s cricket, and beyond the scoreboard, it’s the bonds we strengthen and the message we carry forward that truly matter.

Press contact: Press@ssslsg.org

Prime Minister Modi Inaugurated Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research

https://youtu.be/XkeQPU-EapQ?t=3190

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More about ‘One World One Family'

The ‘One World One Family’ is a unique humanitarian movement of Sri Madhusudan Sai, a social and spiritual leader, who is treading the road less travelled to reach the unreached, serve the unserved and do the undone in unimaginable ways. 

The movement proclaims the survival of the weakest in society to create equitable societies, thus aligning with the central promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – ‘Leaving no one behind.’ By taking strides across sectors of Nutrition, Education, and Healthcare, the Sri Madhusudan Sai Global Humanitarian Mission has transformed the lives of over 13 million individuals across the world over the last 12 years.

‘Let no child go to school hungry ever’ was the call, and it galvanised into a morning nutrition movement. From feeding just 50 children in the outskirts of Bangalore, the programme has today grown to become India’s largest morning nutrition programme. More than 10 million children receive fresh multi-nutrient supplement drinks every morning, eradicating their hidden hunger through more than 1 billion servings to date.

‘Erase affordability from the equation of education’ was the message which promulgated the expansion of the educational arena into 28 campuses that provide values-based integral education completely free of charge from Grade 6 to Doctoral Studies to over 3,700 students. A one-of-a-kind free medical college was inaugurated by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi in March 2023. More than 200 students from the rural strata of society are being trained at the medical college to be moulded into capable and compassionate healthcare professionals who will serve in rural areas.

‘Compassion without Commercialisation’ is at the core of the healthcare services provided by the mission as single-speciality services for paediatric cardiac care, mother and child hospitals, multi-speciality services, outreach programmes, and diagnostic and wellness centres for preventive primary care. Over 3 million outpatient consultations and screenings, and 100,000 inpatient treatments including surgeries have been performed thus far. The world’s largest chain of completely free-of-charge paediatric cardiac hospitals has been set up in India, Fiji and Sri Lanka with the motto ‘Sirf Dil Bina Bill’, healing more than 34,000 little hearts.

Note-worthy Achievements 

• India’s largest morning nutrition programme

• India’s one-of-a-kind completely free-of-charge chain of residential schools

• India’s first completely free of charge University with a self-sustainable model

• World’s first completely free medical college

• World’s largest chain of completely free-of-charge paediatric cardiac hospitals 

A wave of transformation is surging forth continuously creating a ripple effect of gratitude, servitude, and sacrifice in the society through these acts of compassion that give more and take nothing.