Over 18000 children light up Wankhede for Mumbai Indians' annual ESA Day

Today marks a special occasion for the Mumbai Indians as they celebrate ESA Day on a day in which they are playing a home match against the Delhi Capitals. ESA stands for Education and Sports for All, a joint initiative by the Reliance Foundation and the Mumbai Indians franchise.

This tradition began last season when the IPL returned to the home-and-away format. Each year, MI dedicates a game to ESA Day, inviting thousands of underprivileged children from NGOs across Mumbai to witness a live IPL match. The goal is to expose these children to the excitement of cricket and inspire them to pursue their dreams in education and sports. The Wankhede Stadium transforms into a vibrant atmosphere filled with cheering kids, making it a truly special day for both the young audience and the players.

This initiative goes beyond just a single match. ESA is a year-round program that provides underprivileged children with access to educational resources, sports training facilities, and mentorship opportunities. By creating pathways to education and sports participation, ESA aims to empower these children and equip them for a brighter future.

MI batters provide thorough entertainment

The Mumbai Indians' batters put up a strong total on ESA Day after being put in to bat first by the Delhi Capitals. They have scored an impressive total of 234 runs, and will now be looking to complete the job.

Openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan laid a strong foundation with scores of 49 and 42 respectively. While Axar Patel claimed their wickets, the middle order stepped up. Key contributions from Hardik Pandya and Tim David ensured that they were on track to put up a good score. Tim David's unbeaten knock of 45 off 21 balls was crucial but in the end, it was Romario Shepherd's electric 39 off 10 deliveries that provided a brilliant flourish. This collective batting effort sets Mumbai Indians up for what should be their first win of the season.