Cricket

Cricket Legends Unite for Charity Auction to Empower Underprivileged CommunitiesIndian cricket icons Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, and Rahul Dravid have joined forces to support a charity auction benefiting the Vipla Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering underprivileged communities in India. The auction, organized by Indian wicket-keeper batter KL Rahul and his wife Athiya Shetty, is titled "Cricket for a Cause: To Benefit the Vipla Foundation."The auction features an array of iconic cricket memorabilia, including a signed cricket bat from IPL 2024 by MS Dhoni, signed cricket bats from the 2023 World Cup by Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, and a signed Indian cricket team jersey by Virat Kohli from the 2019 World Cup. These items have starting bids ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 3,50,000.The Vipla Foundation has been working tirelessly for 36 years to empower women and children. The organization has established a special school for the hearing impaired and intellectually disabled, equipped with modern facilities such as smart classrooms, speech therapy rooms, and play areas. The auction aims to further enhance these facilities to support underprivileged children of various backgrounds."This is not just an auction; it's an opportunity for all of us to come together and make a difference," said Mana Shetty, the trustee of the Vipla Foundation. "It's heartwarming to see the cricketing legends come together for such a noble cause. Every item tells a story of passion, hard work, and triumph."In addition to the aforementioned items, the auction will also feature a signed bat by Rahul Dravid from India's tour to England in 2011, signed India jerseys by R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah, signed Rajasthan Royals jerseys by Sanju Samson, Jos Buttler, and Yuzvendra Chahal, a signed Chennai Super Kings jersey by Ravindra Jadeja, and signed bats by Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Marcus Stoinis.The auction is a testament to the power of sports to inspire and unite people for a common cause. The proceeds from the auction will directly benefit the Vipla Foundation, enabling them to continue their vital work in empowering underprivileged communities in India.