Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane has described playing tennis-ball cricket with Britain's Prince William on The Mall in London — with Buckingham Palace as the backdrop — as an experience he will carry with him for a long time. The unique match, held as part of the countdown to the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony, brought together some of cricket's most celebrated names ahead of the prize's landmark debut in Mumbai on 17 November 2026.

A Star-Studded Gathering on The Mall

The friendly match on The Mall — the ceremonial avenue leading to Buckingham Palace — drew a distinguished cricketing assembly. Among those present were former India captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies batting legend Brian Lara, and England's Joe Root and Harry Brook. The occasion was organised by Prince William as part of the build-up to the Earthshot Prize ceremony, which will take place in Mumbai on 17 November 2026 — marking the initiative's first-ever edition in India.

Rahane Reflects on the Occasion

Sharing his thoughts in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday, Rahane said the setting elevated the experience far beyond any ordinary match. 'Cricket has taken me to some remarkable venues across the world, but playing tennis-ball cricket right on The Mall in London with Buckingham Palace in the backdrop is an experience that will stay with me for a long time,' he wrote.

Rahane said the gathering celebrated the deep bond between Indian and British cricket while directing attention to a cause that extends well beyond sport. 'Yesterday was about celebrating the shared love for the game between India and the UK, but more importantly, shining a light on a cause that matters far beyond the boundary ropes,' he added. He noted it was a privilege to spend time with Prince William and 'wonderful friends and icons of the sport' — naming Ganguly, Lara, Root, Brook, and others as those who 'brought so much joy to the pitch.'

The Environmental Message at the Heart of It

Rahane drew a direct parallel between the values cricket instils and the collective action required to address the climate crisis. 'Repairing and protecting our planet across nature, clean air, oceans, waste reduction, and climate requires the same values the sport teaches us every day: discipline, collective effort, and genuine intent,' he said.

He also expressed excitement about the Earthshot Prize arriving in his home city, underscoring the global significance of the moment. This comes amid growing efforts by sporting icons globally to lend their platforms to climate advocacy — a trend that has accelerated sharply since the 2015 Paris Agreement.

About the Earthshot Prize

Launched by Prince William in 2020, the Earthshot Prize is designed to discover, recognise, and scale innovative solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges. The prize covers five categories: nature, clean air, oceans, waste reduction, and climate action. The sixth edition, to be held in Mumbai on 17 November 2026, marks the award's first chapter on Indian soil — a significant milestone given India's role as both a major emitter and a vast reservoir of ecological and renewable-energy potential.

With cricket uniting some of the sport's greatest names behind the Earthshot mission, the Mumbai ceremony is set to carry both symbolic and substantive weight.