Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 5: Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and Surat-based Jayesh Desai, Chairman of the esteemed Rajhans Group, a diversified conglomerate with interests spanning realty, confectionery, entertainment, hospitality, e-commerce, and textiles, have come together to create a gated community of Super Luxury Villa Townships – Rajhans Evana. The inaugural Rajhans Evana, promising an unparalleled living experience, is set to blossom opposite Novotel on Khopoli Pali Road.

This meticulously planned enclave of 415 villas bears the unmistakable stamp of Tendulkar’s discerning taste, with his influence woven through over 70 curated lifestyle amenities curated lifestyle amenities along with experiences designed to enrich the lives of every family member residing at Rajhans Evana.

Sachin Tendulkar said, “Rajhans Evana is more than just an address; it is a personally curated lifestyle experience that draws from my travels across the globe and understanding of refined living. My vision is for a place where families can create lasting memories as they find true peace in perfect harmony with nature. I am excited to partner with the Rajhans Group to bring this dream to life.”
Jayesh Desai, Chairman of Rajhans Group said, “My friendship with Sachin spans years, and it is an honour to collaborate with him in realising his extraordinary vision for luxury living. Our first Rajhans Evana is taking shape in the serene landscape of Khopoli Pali Road, designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life and seek an exclusive, tranquil retreat. We are committed to expanding the Rajhans Evana brand to other prime locations across India, creating a legacy of exceptional Super Luxury Communities.”

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content

Forty students—20 boys and 20 girls—from Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) schools have been selected to train under cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar at the Sachin Tendulkar Cricket Academy, Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium. The students were chosen after a three-day selection camp in Nerul, where over 1,100 students participated.

The cricket icon and Bharat Ratna awardee also inaugurated a free scientific cricket training program for NMMC school students at the academy. The initiative, aimed at nurturing young cricketing talent, will provide structured coaching to aspiring players. Speaking at the event, Tendulkar praised NMMC, teachers, and parents for encouraging young talent and expressed confidence that this program would shape future cricket stars.

Recalling his journey, Tendulkar shared how his brother identified his talent and sent him to train under Coach Ramakant Achrekar. He stressed the importance of mentorship and urged parents to support children not just in success but also during challenges. “The journey in sports is driven either by the mind or the heart. A heart-driven journey overcomes obstacles and leads to true success,” he said, inspiring students to pursue cricket with passion.

Under the guidance of Academy Chief Coach Atul Gaikwad, a three-day selection camp was conducted, where over 1,100 students from municipal schools were assessed. From these, 240 were shortlisted, and finally, 20 boys and 20 girls were chosen for a year-long free training program. As part of the initiative, the training will be completely free for NMMC school students; each selected student will receive a free cricket kit, and the training sessions will be held at Dr. D.Y. Patil Stadium.

NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde expressed gratitude to Sachin Tendulkar and the academy for supporting municipal school students. “Persistent effort makes anything possible. I urge students to make the most of this golden opportunity,” he said. With this initiative, NMMC aims to develop young sports talent at the grassroots level, ensuring that future cricket stars emerge from Navi Mumbai.

Growing up, Sara Tendulkar remembers her grandmother, Annabel Mehta, deeply involved in non-profit Apnalaya, working to better the lives of underprivileged children in Mumbai. As a child, Sara would accompany her grandmother to Children’s Day events and marathons, keenly aware of the differences and her own privilege. In 2019, her father, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, and her mother, Dr Anjali Tendulkar, started the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF) to empower underprivileged children through sports, health, and education. So far, over 1.1 lakh children have benefitted from various initiatives across 15 states. STF has partnered with over 14 NGOs to create long-term measurable impact. These include Hi5, SR10 Global Academy, Yuwa, Manndeshi, and Shreeja for sport; Ekam, SRCC, Inga, Makunda, Sai Aashraya, and Parivaar for healthcare; and VVY, Parivaar, and SHIF for education. Recently, Sara officially joined the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation as a director. Sara, who holds an MA in Clinical and Public Health Nutrition from University College London, and will work to drive impactful changes in healthcare, sports, and education across India. In an interview with SocialStory, Sara Tendulkar outlines the STF’s focus on sports, healthcare, and education, and speaks of carrying forward the philanthropic legacy of her family. Edited excerpts: SocialStory (SS): The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF) was launched in 2019. What inspired its creation? Sara Tendulkar (ST): My family has always believed in giving back to society. My grandmother, after moving to India from the UK, dedicated her life to Apnalaya, an NGO focused on supporting underprivileged children. My mother, a pediatrician, has always prioritised children’s healthcare. My father has always believed in giving back to society. For years, my parents were involved in various charitable initiatives, but they realised that a structured approach would create greater impact. In 2019, they officially launched STF to ensure that their philanthropic work was strategic, sustainable, and far-reaching. At its heart, STF is about creating opportunities for children across India—giving them access to quality education, healthcare, and sports so they can lead better and more fulfilling lives. SS: STF focuses on sports, healthcare, and education. Why were these three areas chosen? ST: The foundation’s pillars are deeply rooted in our family’s values. My father has always believed that every child should have access to sports. My mother, as a pediatrician, has seen how early medical intervention can transform a child’s future. My grandfather, a professor, always emphasised that education is the foundation of empowerment. These values resonate with the family, and naturally became the core pillars of STF. SS: What are some key projects STF is working on right now? ST: We have partnered with 14 NGOs across 15+ states, focusing on projects that create long-term, measurable impact. Some of our most significant initiatives include:
  1. Healthcare Initiatives: Mother & Child Nutrition Programme: We focus on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception to infancy—to ensure proper nutrition, immunization, and holistic development. Through this programme, we help mothers and children in underserved communities access the nutrition and medical support they need. Cleft Lip & Palate Surgeries: Many children with cleft lip deformities face social stigma and isolation. STF partners with hospitals and surgeons to provide free reconstructive surgeries, giving children a chance to smile, speak, and integrate into society with confidence.
  2. Sports Initiatives: Football & Basketball Programmes: We run training programmes in multiple states, particularly focusing on tribal and marginalised youth.
  3. Education Initiatives: Scholarships & Mentorship Programmes: Many bright students lack financial support to pursue higher education. STF provides scholarships and mentorship to help students get into good colleges and meaningful careers.
SS: How does STF decide which communities to support? ST: The need in India is huge. We focus on the underserved and marginalised, such as tribal populations and remote rural areas that are overlooked by larger organisations, and where they are hesitant to intervene. We look at places in critical need of support–where children lack basic healthcare, sports or access to education. For example, we work with tribal girls through a football programme, ensuring they develop confidence and life skills alongside athletic training. SS: Can you share a moment that personally impacted you since joining STF? ST: Two experiences stand out. I visited a hospital in Kashmir where I met children undergoing cleft lip surgeries. Seeing their before-and-after transformation was life-changing. I met parents who were grateful and relieved that their child could now speak, smile, and interact with confidence. It made me realise how a simple surgery can change a child’s entire future. In another experience, I met women healthcare workers in rural Udaipur. Women wearing ghoonghats (veil) were fearlessly leading community health initiatives. Their confidence, knowledge, and leadership were inspiring. These experiences showed me that every effort counts, and even small changes can create a life-long impact. SS: What are your personal goals as Director of STF? ST: I want to integrate sports, healthcare, and education into a holistic model. For instance, a child in our sports programme should also receive proper nutrition and healthcare support. We also want to focus on sports for development because when a child gains confidence through sports, it ripples through their family and community—encouraging education, breaking gender barriers, and fostering a growth mindset. SS: Your parents are deeply involved in philanthropy. What lessons have you learned from them? ST: From my father I learned how to prioritise. Despite his busy schedule, he makes time for field visits, interacting with children and their parents and attending sports ceremonies to give away medals. From my mother, I have learned to pay attention to detail. She is meticulous in everything she does. She is very much a Type A doctor, and always asks the right questions. SS: What message do you have for young people who want to contribute to social change? ST: My focus would be on raising awareness among the younger generation, and hopefully, inspiring them to contribute more. You don’t need to donate money to make a difference. You can volunteer your time, effort and skills in helping others, even if it’s just one child.

Children of the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation’s (STF) Sports for Development programs got a unique opportunity to observe cricket greats in action on the field.

Children of the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation’s (STF) Sports for Development programs got a unique opportunity to observe cricket greats in action on the field, as per the release from International Masters League (IML). Their pride was visible as they walked out onto the field at DY Patil Stadium alongside the India Masters and England Masters teams and stood to attention next to Sachin Tendulkar as the National Anthem played. A battle of skill, strategy and cricketing nostalgia unfolded as the yesteryear cricketing stars assembled under the floodlights of a packed DY Patil Stadium here to witness the India Masters riding on an all-round brilliance to convincingly beat England Masters by 9 wickets in another enthralling International Masters League 2025 affair.

India’s hunt for 133 began with a vintage touch of the little master Sachin Tendulkar, slamming five boundaries and a six for his 34 off 21 deliveries to raise the tempo with a 75-run opening partnership in mere 7 overs with Gurkeerat Singh Mann, who was equally aggressive with an unbeaten 35-ball 63.

The electric atmosphere at the stadium came to a brief standstill once Sachin made his way back to the pavilion, after being caught by Tim Ambrose off Chris Schofield, with the crowd, roaring just moments ago, falling into stunned silence.

However, the arrival of the dangerous Yuvraj Singh changed the mood as he brought back the cheers, with a gigantic six over midwicket off the second ball he faced from the English leg-spinner. The southpaw seemed to be in a hurry to finish off things, smoking four boundaries to finish off on an unbeaten 14-ball 27, and more importantly stitched a 57-run undefeated stand with Gurkeerat to take India Masters home in just 11.4 overs.

Earlier, the third match of the inaugural IML served up a classic as Sachin Tendulkar’s India Masters invited Eoin Morgan’s England Masters to bat after electing to field in the high-stakes battle.

The decision seemed to have paid off for the hosts when Abhimanyu Mithun struck in the third over with the wicket of stumper Phil Mustard (8) before Dhawal Kulkarni joined the party by dismissing Morgan for a 13-ball 14, to leave the visitors in a spot of bother inside the powerplay.

Tim Ambrose and Darren Maddy took charge of the proceedings after the early dismissals of the opening combo, and the duo put up a calculative 43-run stand for the third wicket to stabilise the innings, before left-arm spinner Pawan Negi struck twice in a span of two overs to keep India ahead in the contest.

While Ambrose contributed with a 22-ball 23, Maddy came up with 25 off 24 balls before falling to the same bowler. Tim Bresnan struck a couple of boundaries during his 19-ball 16 before being packed off by Kulkarni.

With half the side back in the dugout for 89 runs, England needed some late order blitzkriegs but India’s disciplined bowling attack did not allow any freebies, as Vinay Kumar got rid of the dangerous Dimitri Mascarenhas for single digits, before Mithun and Kulkarni struck again to remove Chris Tremlett for an 8-ball 16, and Steven Finn (1). Towards the end, Chris Schofield’s undefeated 8-ball 18 gave the tourists the much-needed push.

For India, Dhawal Kulkarni was the pick of the bowlers, returning impressive figures of 3/21, while Abhimanyu Mithun and Pawan Negi bagged two wickets apiece. Vinay Kumar picked up a wicket for the home side.

It was in 2023 that Anjali and Sachin Tendulkar met Bill Gates during the latter’s visit to Mumbai. They found common ground in their thoughts on philanthropy and child health giving shape to a collaboration between the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation (STF) and the Gates Foundation (GF) to support holistic growth of children, according to a release from STF.

The collaboration was formalized recently when the STF and GF signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly tackle issues in healthcare, nutrition, education, and rural development, with a particular emphasis on those impacting children. This partnership will drive synergy between GF’s and STF’s expertise, resources and local insights to drive meaningful outcomes across India.

The Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, established in 2019 by Anjali and Sachin Tendulkar, has focused on improving access to healthcare, education, and sports for underprivileged children. Over the years, STF has worked with various NGOs and institutions, impacting over 100,000 lives and its journey reflects a commitment to creating innumerable opportunities for the next generation.
Earlier, the Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Bill Gates shared a video with Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, captioned “A snack break before we get to work,” as per a video posted by Gates on Instagram.

In the video, Gates and Tendulkar were seen enjoying vada pav together while sitting on a bench. The clip concludes with the caption, “Serving soon.” Reflecting on his visit to India, Gates wrote in his blog, “I came away with new ideas because India is full of smart, ambitious people tackling some of the world’s hardest problems in creative ways.”

Tendulkar, famously known as the ‘God of Cricket,’ still holds the records for the most runs in Test and One-Day Internationals (ODIs), along with the unique achievement of scoring 100 international centuries. Renowned for his exceptional skills and mastery of cricket, he entertained fans across the globe from 1989 to 2013.

The Mumbai-born cricketer made his Test debut on November 15, 1989, at just 16 years old, and played his first ODI on December 18 of the same year. Across 664 international appearances, he scored a total of 34,357 runs at an average of 48.52, remaining the highest run-scorer in international cricket. His 100 centuries and 164 half-centuries remain unmatched in the sport’s history.
Tendulkar was the first cricketer to score a double century in ODIs and played a record 200 Test matches. In ODIs, he accumulated 18,426 runs at an average of 44.83, including 49 centuries and 96 half-centuries. In Tests, he amassed 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78, with 51 centuries and 68 fifties.

A key member of India’s ICC Cricket World Cup-winning squad in 2011, Tendulkar fulfilled his lifelong dream of lifting the prestigious trophy after making his World Cup debut in 1992. From 2008 to 2013, he represented the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), helping them clinch the title in 2013. (ANI)

I have always believed sport to be one of the simplest ways to obtain maximum joy. In a developing nation like ours, where there are still places with less opportunities for children to enjoy the joys and freedom of childhood, sport offers a much-needed break from daily hardships. For children who face several challenges growing up and need to support their families, the opportunity to play a sport, any sport, can be life changing. It can generate hope, confidence and joy that helps them go further than they ever imagined.

By ‘sport,’ I do not mean competitive sport at the highest professional levels, although that is always a possibility. I mean ‘sport’ as play, as an outlet for every child’s inborn competitive spirit and creativity. At the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation, Sports for Development (S4D) is one of our three pillars, alongside health and education. We believe playing sport gives children the chance to discover their potential.

The benefits of ‘sport’ and ‘play’ on children’s development have been widely documented by organisations like UNICEF and should not be limited to those who can afford lessons, equipment, and classes. That is why the Sachin Tendulkar Foundation brings sport to children in underserved and overlooked communities across our country. And I have seen the successes that have resulted from our efforts.
Some of the children the Foundation serves live in the tribal area of Jawhar in Maharashtra, without easy access to running water or reliable electricity. Their parents work as daily wage labourers and their families focus on survival, not on long-term plans for the future.

Girls are expected to help at home, are rarely given a chance to play, and are married early. Yet, through sports training and mentorship provided by the STF, children like Kavita and Prakash’s confidence has grown and they realised they could achieve much more than what society expects from them. Today, both have become the first in their families to complete their Bachelor’s degrees, and Prakash now works at a private company.

In the tribal villages of West Bengal, where certain societal ills are prevalent, Sonali, Baisakhi, Purnima, and Swapna started to play football as part of our S4D initiative. They competed in tournaments and put the skills and leadership they developed to good use both on and off the field. Sonali plays for the Kolkata First Division League and is in her second year of college. Baisakhi is also in her second year at Bardhaman University and plays in the university team.

Purnima is preparing to sit for her police entrance examinations and Swapna fought against her alcoholic father to be allowed to continue her education and play football. Today, she is sitting for her Class XII board exams, is teaching children in her village, and was part of the Shreeja India Team that won the Reliance Foundation Youth Sports league 2025. Through sport, all these girls discovered their talents and have given back to their families and communities. Many parents were initially hesitant to allow their children to participate in sports because they didn’t think it had any value, but they have since been tremendously proud as their sons and daughters achieved milestones that they thought were impossible.

Some might not have ever imagined a future beyond daily wage labour for their children, and yet today, they see them pursuing higher education, stable careers, and financial independence.

Parents have told us things like, “I am learning along with my children,” or “no sense in discriminating between boys and girls, both need to study and get ahead in life,” and “we told our daughter we won’t stand in her way.”

Anyone who has experienced the power of sports can make a difference by giving back in any way they can. For some, it may be funding and philanthropy. For others, it can be providing a safe space to play or offer mentorship. These can be lifechanging for a child who has never had either. The joy of playing lies in the freedom provided to the children, the sense that we are all equal, and the exhilaration of trying to do your best. When I think of children in India’s remotest corners, I imagine them running free, dreaming without limits, and knowing they belong. As responsible citizens, we can ensure that every child has the chance to experience this. Together — one field, one coach, one child at a time — we can create a future where every young Indian has the opportunity to thrive and create a better future for themselves, their families, communities, and our country.

(SACHIN TENDULKAR HAS WRITTEN THIS ARTICLE ON THE OCCASION OF INTERNATIONAL DAY OF SPORT FOR DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE)