New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) MI New York put on a series of captivating performances to win the inaugural edition of Major League Cricket (MLC) at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Texas.

On the day of the final, when the men in blue and gold put on a supreme show to clinch the title, team owner Nita M. Ambani was pitch side, passionately behind the team, as always.

Major League Cricket is the United States' T20 cricket league. Its inaugural season was held from July 13 with MI New York beating Seattle Orcas in a pulsating final.

Speaking on the momentous occasion, Nita  Ambani described the atmosphere for the final as ‘unbelievable and really exciting.’

She also hailed the impact of the tournament that has seen some of the best players in the world in action. “Just look at the atmosphere here. It looks like a festival of cricket. I think MLC is a momentous step in the development of cricket in this region. Sport can be a bedrock of society and especially in the US it’s a big part of the culture. So, for us to join hands with MLC and play our role in the growth and development of cricket in this region is fantastic. I’m enjoying every moment of it.”

Mumbai Indians is now a truly global franchise with presence across two genders, three continents, four countries and five leagues.

Speaking about the vision behind the same, Nita Ambani said, “It’s been wonderful to see the growth of cricket around the world and especially MI going to the UAE, South Africa and now here in the US. We also have a women’s team which I am very, very proud of. It was so wonderful to see these young girls coming from such diverse backgrounds coming and playing together as a team. It was very heart-warming.”

Nita Ambani also hoped that the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) will be a game changer. “I’m a big supporter of girls in sports and I hope we can take it forward in every sport possible,” she said.

She also spoke about MI’s unique #OneFamily concept and what it signifies. “We believe that we are a family at MI and that is our ethos. It comprises not just the players and support staff but also all our fans who have contributed so much to making MI a global brand. I think one of the most important initiatives for us is Education and Sports For All. The initiative has supported 22 million children from India who come from an underprivileged background. So we are very proud to call all of them One Family, MI family.”

Ambani also spoke about how Mumbai Indians have been a nursery of talent over the years. “At Mumbai Indians we pride ourselves on discovering and nurturing young talent -- Hardik (Pandya), (Jasprit) Bumrah. We hope to do this not just in India but around the world.”

MI New York chased down a total of 184 in just 16 overs in the final to win by six wickets with captain Nicholas Pooran leading from the front with an unbeaten hundred.

Mumbai, March 30 (IANS) India's first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary cultural space, the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre, will open in Mumbai on Friday which will showcase the best of India across the fields of music, theatre, fine arts and crafts to audiences from both India and around the world.

The centre will mark another definitive step in strengthening India's cultural infrastructure and bringing to fruition the best of India and the world in the sphere of arts.

The launch programme will features a specially-curated art and craft exposition called 'Swadesh' along with three shows - a musical theatrical called 'The Great Indian Musical: Civilisation to Nation'; a costume art exhibition called 'India in Fashion'; and a visual art show titled 'Sangam/Confluence'.

Together, the event will explore the diversity of India's cultural traditions and their impact on the world, while also showcasing the diversity of spaces at the cultural centre.

Speaking on the occasion, Nita Ambani said, "Bringing this cultural centre to life has been a sacred journey. We were keen to create a space for both promoting and celebrating our artistic and cultural heritage in cinema and music, in dance and drama, in literature and folklore, in arts and crafts and in science and spirituality. It is a space where we will showcase the best of India to the world and welcome the best of the world to India."

The Centre will be highly-inclusive with free access for children, students, senior citizens, and the differently-abled, and will strongly focus on community nurturing programmes

The launch programme has been imagined to highlight India's immense cultural impact and provide a platform where the artist meets the audience.

The cultural centre is a first-of-its-kind, multi-disciplinary space in the sphere of arts, within the Jio World Centre, located in the heart of Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex.

The centre is home to three performing arts spaces: The 2,000-seat Grand Theatre, the technologically advanced 250-seat Studio Theatre, and the dynamic 125-seat Cube. It also features the Art House, a four-storey dedicated visual arts space built as per global museum standards.

Mumbai, March 5 (IANS) Nita Ambani, Director of Reliance Industries, who are owners of Mumbai Indians in the Women's Premier League (WPL), hopes that the tournament will help a lot more women take up sports and make a career in it.

Batting first, captain Harmanpreet Kaur's quickfire and pristine 65, including 14 fours, took Mumbai Indians to a mammoth 207/5 at the DY Patil Stadium in the first match of the WPL 2023 on Sunday.

In reply, Gujarat Giants were never in the game as Mumbai Indians' bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals and restricted them to a mere 64 in 15.1 overs, as Mumbai registered a whopping 143-run win to begin the tournament.

"It is an iconic day and an iconic moment for women in sport. It's so thrilling to be a part of the WPL. I hope this inspires young girls across the country to take up sport, realise their dream and follow their hearts," said Nita Ambani, in a media release issued by the franchise.

Nita was also appreciative of the experienced as well as the young players stepping up for Mumbai.

"Mumbai Indians are known to play a certain kind of cricket, fearless and exciting. Our girls have performed so well today (in the match). I'm so proud of the way they have played," she said.

"It was a great display. A special mention to our captain Harman, what a special innings she played. Amelia Kerr was fabulous, she batted well, bowled well," she added.

The 59-year old also gave a huge shout out to all the fans at the DY Patil Stadium who turned out in huge numbers and acknowledged their presence.

"It was wonderful to see so many people in the stadium, both men and women coming out in large numbers to support the women's team. Let's just support our girls and give more power to them. I wish all the teams the very best for this inaugural tournament," she added.