Dubai: Mumbai Indians celebrated their decade-long association with the Indian Premier League through a colourful function in Mumbai.
Titled ‘MI10’ — Igniting Passion For 10 Years’, the function was held at the franchise owner’s residence. The franchise is owned by Nita and Mukesh Ambani. This franchise won the IPL and Champions League twice during this span.
The franchise felicitated cricketing legends Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga for huge role in the team’s success over the past decade.
Tendulkar, after his retirement from international cricket, continues as mentor and icon of the team while Harbhajan and Malinga have been playing for the franchise since its inception.
The franchise announced that the trio of Tendulkar, Harbhajan and Malinga are known as the ‘Spine’, ‘Sprit’ and the ‘Soul’ in the Mumbai Indians inner-circle.
A huge gathering of past and present Mumbai Indians cricketers, support staff and members of the management attended the function.
The franchise also released a book as a commemorative to their 10 ‘glorious’ years encapsulating the decade-long journey with interesting anecdotes, interviews and comments from all past and present cricketers of MI.
Some of the most promising cricketers in the Indian team today were given a stage to perform by this franchise. In fact, youngsters like Ambati Rayudu, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya and Axar Patel caught the attention of the selectors through their performance in the IPL for Mumbai.
Mumbai Indians did not confine their activities to a cricket field alone. They started a social cause ‘Education For All’ campaign in 2010 to support underprivileged children.
Over 100,000 children have benefited through this programme.
Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, John Abraham and Raveena Tandon added glitter to the function.
Other cricketers who attended the function were Sanath Jayasurya and Shikhar Dhawan.
