Latest news with #ProjectMumbai
Mint
4 days ago
- Sport
- Mint
AB de Villiers plays wheelchair cricket in Mumbai, delights fans with inspiring gesture
AB de Villiers, South African cricket legend captured hearts with a touching gesture during a practice session with the Mumbai Wheelchair Cricket Team. The former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) star was seen immersed in playing wheelchair cricket alongside specially-abled athletes at an event held at Islam Gymkhana in Marine Lines. This heartfelt moment was part of 'Project Mumbai,' an initiative encouraging individuals to give back to the city through meaningful contributions. De Villiers, renowned for his dynamic 360-degree batting style actively participated, sitting in a wheelchair and engaging with the players. His presence brought joy and motivation to the team. The wheelchair cricket session highlighted the resilience and skill of the players, and de Villiers' involvement increased the event's impact, inspiring everyone present. In a video posted by RCB, AB de Villiers was seen playing a shot with his bat. "There's only one heart, AB… how many times will you win it?" RCB posted on their social media handle. AB de Villiers dedicated his day to various other programs under 'Project Mumbai.' In a civic school in Malabar Hill, he traded his cricket bat for a paintbrush. ABD joined students and volunteers in painting classrooms, transforming the learning environment into a brighter, more cheerful space. AB de Villiers came to India to extend his support for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who secured their place in the IPL 2025 final after a dominating eight-wicket win against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1. The final of IPL 2025 is scheduled for June 3 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The involvement of de Villiers and his delight at RCB's progress, has sparked excitement among fans. 'I am very happy that RCB is in the final,' he said, reflecting on the team's journey. 'I am very much looking forward to the finals and hopefully this will be the year for RCB," he expressed his optimism for RCB's chances to lift the trophy this season.
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
‘He followed his gut feel': Ab de Villiers on Virat Kohli's Test retirement
Former South Africa player AB de Villiers said that Virat Kohli will be missed in Test cricket, adding that the Indian player will leave behind a great legacy in the longest format. He also said that the Indian team led by Shubman Gill can achieve something exceptional in England if they believe in themselves. Earlier this month, Kohli retired as India's fourth-highest run scorer in Test cricket, having scored 9230 runs at an average of 46.85 in 123 matches. He scored 30 centuries and 31 half-centuries. His annual average never dipped below 55 in the four years between 2016 and 2019. Additionally his calendar year average at the end of 2016 and 2017 were both above 75. 'He followed his gut feel. I think he has done a lot for cricket around the world over the years. Luckily, we'll still see him on the cricket field. He will be missed in Test matches, there is no doubt about it, but he leaves (behind) a great legacy with the red ball,' de Villiers said on Kohli on sidelines of a NGO Project Mumbai on Saturday. Gill will be leading an India side bereft of the experience of Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin, all of whom have retired from Tests. They will also be without the veteran pacer Mohammed Shami who was not fully fit to board the flight to England. 'Yes, it's time for the younger guys to step up… Shubman Gill taking on the responsibility. There's lots of talent in India and largely credit to the IPL for that, (it is) really giving great exposure to some of the youngsters at a very early age. We saw Vaibhav Suryavanshi this year (and) many other youngsters, they come in their first year and they look very mature and ready to play cricket and it's a great platform for Indian cricket,' De Villiers said. 'They've got to take some responsibility on in England, it'll be a tough test, but they have all the talent in the world and if they believe, maybe they can achieve something special,' the former South African icon added.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Watch: AB De Villiers plays wheelchair cricket in Mumbai at Islam Gymkhana
AB de Villiers plays wheelchair cricket in Mumbai. (Image: PTI Screenshot) Former South African cricket star AB de Villiers participated in multiple community service activities in Mumbai, including playing wheelchair cricket and engaging in classroom beautification projects. As Project Mumbai's Brand Champion, he spent a day volunteering across the city, connecting with wheelchair athletes at Islam Gymkhana and visiting a BMC municipal school in Malabar Hill. De Villiers joined the Mumbai Wheelchair Cricket Team during their practice session at Islam Gymkhana, Marine Lines. He sat in a wheelchair to play alongside the team members, creating an atmosphere of enthusiasm and mutual respect. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The cricket legend's visit is part of Project Mumbai's SATRANG program, which promotes civic pride through community participation and public space enhancement. At the BMC municipal school in Malabar Hill, de Villiers helped transform classrooms by painting them. He also spent time at the CSSC Centre, where he participated in a paper bag-making workshop with underprivileged children. Josh Hazlewood - we picked up momentum from Jitesh's knock in Lucknow "Mumbai has given me so much love over the years. Today, I wanted to give back not as a cricketer, but as a volunteer. There's something truly powerful about working with others to make spaces better for children, for families, and for this incredible city," de Villiers said. 'Hopefully this will be the year for RCB' De Villiers also expressed enthusiasm about Royal Challengers Bengaluru reaching the IPL 2025 finals after their victory over Punjab Kings. "I am very happy that RCB is in the final. Mumbai Indians won last night and it is going to be a very good qualifier 2...I am very much looking forward to the finals and hopefully this will be the year for RCB," he stated. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have qualified for their fourth IPL final, marking their first appearance since 2016. The team previously reached the finals in 2009 and 2011, losing to Deccan Chargers and Chennai Super Kings, respectively. RCB also lost the 2016 final to Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight runs. They will face the winner of Qualifier 2 between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings in the final on June 3.
The Print
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Print
Armed with paintbrush, AB de Villiers bats for sustainability through art in Mumbai
In doing so, de Villiers will kick off a 'mega citizen volunteering festival' aimed at encouraging city residents to pledge their time, effort and talent to the city through Project Mumbai, a non-government organisation. The former cricketer is participating in 'Project Satrangi', a wall art drive by an NGO called Project Mumbai, which aims to adorn the city's otherwise dull and grey walls with colourful paintings and murals. Mumbai: South African cricket legend A.B. de Villiers will pick up a paintbrush instead of a bat in Mumbai this Saturday as he joins a group of volunteers to paint a city wall for a campaign to promote sustainability through art. The volunteers will support a variety of community service activities, including beach clean-ups, collection of plastic and e-waste, and ground campaigns on noise pollution. 'We have chosen a wall in south Mumbai where ABD will splash strokes on the themes of sustainability and volunteering,' Project Mumbai CEO and founder Shishir Joshi told ThePrint. 'ABD has been a strong proponent of sustainability. And not just that, he strongly believes that citizen participation through volunteering is a strong solution to tackling climate change concerns. Project Mumbai has been leading social change through citizen-led movements. Hence, it has been a perfect fit. Mind meeting the heart for a cause.' This is the second time de Villliers is lending his support to the project, having participated last year by painting some of the city's public benches. Started during the COVID-19 pandemic to honour frontline workers such as doctors and policemen, Project Satrangi has been transforming the public spaces of Mumbai—bridges, municipal schools and railway stations—with colourful art created by volunteers. Also Read: As Senas squabble over Bal Thackeray, a group of cartoonists is quietly preserving his other legacy Empty cityscapes turn into artworks For Arati Kale, Lead, Volunteering, Project Mumbai, and her team at Project Satrangi, the initiative goes beyond rainbow-coloured murals on public walls. Earlier this month, the group prepared the walls of the newly reconstructed Gokhale Bridge at Andheri for inauguration, a project close to their heart as they had observed its construction from their office located close by. The bridge made headlines for the disruption that followed its reconstruction, when a two-metre gap between its access route and the CD Barfiwala flyover left it unusable. People had to wait for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to fix the alignment before the route became functional. The Project Mumbai team reached out to the BMC with a proposal to paint the walls of the Gokhale Bridge. But time was limited and the BMC insisted on the themes of 'Road Safety and Mumbai' for the murals. The team coordinated with artists, BMC officials and the traffic department before 10 of their proposed 20 sketches of witty road safety-themed murals were selected. One of them shows a man telling a tipsy motorist, 'Stay alive, don't drink and drive.' N.K. Sinha, station master at the Mumbai Suburban Railway's Reay Road station, said the painted walls, apart from beautification, also had other positive outcomes like a reduction in crime rates at the stations as well as discouraging spitting and open defecation near the walls. 'My station is my home, people will judge me if it remains dirty,' he said. Station Master Meena Santi of the erstwhile King's Circle station, renamed Tirthankar Parshwanath, said the artworks had become selfie points. Children play around the walls, attracted by the images of animals and birds, she said. 'Why will anyone spit on the wall when it is meant for taking pictures?' What citizen volunteers say Project Satrangi focuses on the local community to recruit volunteers from different age groups. Kale said the volunteers didn't need to have specialised knowledge. Professional artists made the sketches, while the volunteers filled in the colours. Ranjana, a 58-year-old volunteer, who was at a railway station site for about two hours helping colour a tree, said it 'was therapeutic'. 'It feels you are contributing to a social cause and doing good for the city,' said Harold, a 41-year-old resident of Santacruz (West), who volunteered for a project at King's Circle, Masjid, Kalwa and Thane railway stations. Joshi said that in a separate initiative by Project Mumbai, ramps are being built in public spaces with recycled plastic. 'It is about making Mumbai India's kindness capital,' he said. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: Maharashtra govt to train ITI students in disaster management as India-Pakistan tensions rise
