An unforgettable encounter
For the five children from the Parikrma Humanity Foundation, the day started like any other, but turned into an unforgettable experience later, when the young, eager minds from an underprivileged background in Bengaluru were given a rare opportunity to meet their cricketing idols – the Indian cricket team – in Delhi. This extraordinary encounter was made possible by a platform created by SBI Life Insurance’s partnership with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to provide meaningful engagement, which can inspire children to dream big in life. It was not just a day of excitement, but a transformative experience – one that gave these children more than just autographs and selfies. It gave them hope and inspiration!
For children in India, cricket is more than just a sport. It is a dream, a passion that runs through the veins of millions across the country. From the narrow lanes of villages to the urban cricket pitches, the love for the game is a unifying force that transcends socio-economic barriers. For many, cricketing heroes symbolise success and triumph over adversity, making them beacons of hope. In communities where poverty often dampens ambition, cricket provides an escape – a world of possibilities where talent can change one’s destiny. The game has the power to unite people from all walks of life, and for these children, getting a glimpse of their heroes was akin to touching the stars.
In the bustling city of Delhi, the five children – Deepika, Mailari, Ananya, Nava and Paogouhao – from the Parikrma Humanity Foundation, found themselves walking into the same practice nets that some of India’s most celebrated cricketing legends train on. With wide eyes and excited smiles, they interacted with players like Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh. These weren’t just fleeting encounters. The children were not mere spectators on the sidelines – they were immersed in the atmosphere, absorbing every moment of the encounter. The players took time to engage with the children, sharing tips, stories and even indulging in an impromptu game, making the experience both personal and deeply inspiring.
What made this experience even more impactful was the humility of the players. For these children, who often face challenges at every step of their lives, watching their idols interact so genuinely reminded them that greatness doesn’t come from privilege, but from perseverance and dedication. It was a powerful lesson – that success isn’t defined by where you come from, but by how hard you’re willing to work to achieve your goals.
It was in these small, intimate moments – Sanju Samson showing the kids a few wicket-keeping tricks, Arshdeep Singh bowling for them to bat against – that the magic truly happened. The players’ willingness to not only interact but also connect with the kids gave the entire encounter a sense of genuine warmth and camaraderie. The children, for their part, soaked it all in, every tip, every smile, every pat on the back adding to their sense of belonging and possibility.
For kids like Deepika, who had only seen cricket on a small TV screen, being in the presence of her heroes felt like stepping into a dream. She had never imagined that a day would come when she could not only watch but play alongside the cricketing legends she had admired from afar. But it wasn’t just about fanfare or star power.
A metaphor for life
This experience showed these children that their dreams, however distant they might seem given their current circumstances, are within reach. Cricket, for them, became a metaphor for life – a journey of perseverance, practice and belief.
Following their unforgettable time on the practice grounds, the children were also treated to an exclusive viewing of the India vs Bangladesh T20 match at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Sitting in the stands alongside thousands of passionate fans, these children witnessed the energy of the crowd, the intensity of the game and the camaraderie of the team in action. From there, they cheered for their newfound friends, their hearts swelling with pride and joy, knowing that, for one brief moment, they too had been part of something monumental. It was an emotional high, watching their idols translate the very skills they had demonstrated to the kids onto the big stage, solidifying the belief that hard work and dreams go hand in hand.
This initiative by SBI Life Insurance, in collaboration with the BCCI, is part of a broader effort to inspire and empower young minds. For many years, SBI Life has worked tirelessly to uplift children from underserved communities, ensuring that financial limitations don’t become barriers to their dreams. Their CSR initiatives go beyond just providing basic resources – they aim to inspire, educate, empower and liberate communities. The company has a longstanding tradition of supporting children through various initiatives, including holistic education of more than 500 children at the Parikrma Humanity Foundation’s Sahakar Nagar school and Junior College. However, beyond financial aid and educational support, SBI Life understands the importance of emotional and inspirational experiences like these in shaping the future of young minds.
It’s not just about helping children pass exams or secure good grades. It’s about giving them the confidence to believe in themselves, to believe that their background doesn’t define their future. In this case, cricket became a vehicle for that message. Watching their idols excel on the field, despite coming from diverse backgrounds themselves, reinforced the idea that success is born out of passion, hard work, and determination.
“We’re honoured to have played a small part in helping these children experience such a significant moment in their lives,” affirmed Ravindra Sharma, chief, brand, corporate communication & CSR, SBI Life, encapsulating the vision behind this initiative. “At SBI Life, we look at our partnership with BCCI beyond supporting the sport to inspire fans across the nation and liberate them to dream big and pursue those dreams. We are thankful to cricketing legends like Suryakumar Yadav, Arshdeep Singh and Sanju Samson, who took time out and wholeheartedly played ball with kids. The quality time spent will be etched as an inspirational memory for the kids, encouraging them to dream big. Through initiatives like these, SBI Life remains committed to supporting and empowering children, ensuring that their dreams are nurtured both inside and outside the classroom.”
Holistic development
The Parikrma Humanity Foundation, based in Bengaluru, is dedicated to providing high-quality education and holistic development to children from some of the most marginalised communities in the city. For years, the foundation has worked to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time, by offering them not only education but also life skills and personal development opportunities that shape their future. Through its four schools and junior college, Parikrma reaches children from 95 slum communities and five orphanages, providing them with opportunities that would otherwise be beyond their reach. The partnership with SBI Life has further enhanced the foundation’s ability to support these children, not just academically but also in their emotional and personal development.
“SBI Life has been a great support to Parikrma in running our school and college for underserved children in Bengaluru,” stressed Shukla Bose, founder & CEO, Parikrma Humanity Foundation, emphasising the significance of such experiences. “They have not only helped us financially but also found various opportunities for our children. We are thankful to SBI Life for inviting some of our children to be at the 20:20 cricket match in Delhi. We believe this exposure is an important life-skill lesson for our students. We hope this opportunity will give our children the exposure they lack. Who knows, they could well be one of the cricketers playing for our country in a few years’ time”.
For these five children, their meeting with the Indian cricket team was not just a fleeting moment of excitement but a powerful, lasting experience. It reminded them that dreams, no matter how big, are within reach if you have the courage to pursue them. It taught them that success is not confined to the privileged – it is something that can be achieved through hard work, determination and, most importantly, belief in oneself.
When organisations like SBI Life, the BCCI, and Parikrma come together, they create ripples of change that impact not just individual lives but entire communities. As these children returned to Bengaluru, they carried more than just autographs and photographs. They returned with a renewed sense of purpose and a belief that they too could one day achieve greatness. Their story is one of many that highlight the incredible power of inspiration, the importance of giving back, and the value of creating opportunities for young minds to dream and aspire.
In a world where access to opportunities often determines the trajectory of a child’s life, initiatives like these are beacons of hope. They remind us all that, sometimes, all a child needs is a little bit of exposure, a moment where the impossible feels within reach, to set them on a path toward greatness. These five children now know that their circumstances do not limit them. They can dream as big as they want and, with the right support, turn those dreams into reality.
In a country where cricket is religion, this initiative showed that the sport could also be a tool for empowerment, one that transcends boundaries and brings hope to those who need it most. These five children may not yet fully grasp the magnitude of what they experienced that day, but one thing is certain – the seeds of inspiration have been planted, and their dreams now feel a little more achievable.