Indian cricketer KL Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty have unveiled a new charitable initiative called Cricket for a Cause, aiming to support the Vipla Foundation (formerly known as Save the Children India) and its special needs school in BKC, Mumbai.
Several prominent cricket figures are rallying behind this worthy cause. Icons such as MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Rahul Dravid, along with international stars like Jos Buttler and Marcus Stoinis, are contributing to this noble effort.
Athiya Shetty shared her enthusiasm for the project, saying:
“The Vipla Foundation has been a significant part of my childhood. I spent countless afternoons there after school, teaching and connecting with the children. Through this auction, I hope to honor my grandmother’s legacy, who founded Vipla Foundation to support children with hearing impairments and intellectual disabilities.”
KL Rahul echoed her sentiments:
“Visiting the school was a profoundly moving experience for me. The children’s resilience inspired me to contribute however I could. The auction is our way of supporting the exceptional work done by the Vipla Foundation in creating a nurturing educational environment for these children.”
“When I reached out to the cricket community, the response was overwhelmingly positive. By participating in the auction and bidding on cricket memorabilia, each bidder becomes part of this effort to make a meaningful difference in these children’s lives,” KL Rahul added.
The auction, featuring exclusive cricket memorabilia such as jerseys and bats, is set for August 23.
In other cricket news, KL Rahul recently made his return to international cricket. During the first ODI against Sri Lanka on August 2, the hosts scored 230 runs, bolstered by half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka (56) and Dunith Wellalage (67*).
Rohit Sharma gave the visitors a strong start with 58 runs off 47 balls. Although Indian middle-order batsmen, including Virat Kohli (23) and KL Rahul (31), got off to promising starts, they were unable to convert these into substantial innings.
The match ended in a dramatic tie. With India needing five runs from three overs, Shivam Dube hit a crucial four to level the scores. However, the Sri Lankan captain dismissed Dube and Arshdeep in successive deliveries, resulting in a nail-biting finish.
