Ajinkya Rahane plays tennis-ball cricket with Prince William at The Mall, calls it unforgettable

Former India Test captain Ajinkya Rahane got a unique opportunity to play cricket with Prince William in London. Several cricketing greats from India and England took part in a friendly tennis-ball cricket match at The Mall, against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace. Rahane described the experience as "unforgettable".

The special event was organised under an initiative of The Royal Foundation, ahead of the upcoming Earthshot Prize award ceremony. The ceremony will be held in Mumbai next month, and the match sought to carry a message of cricket and environmental conservation.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly, West Indies great Brian Lara, and England stars Joe Root and Harry Brook were among the many dignitaries who took part. Rahane expressed his happiness at spending time with Prince William and reliving old memories of cricket.

Rahane shared his feelings about the experience in a LinkedIn post on Wednesday. He said cricket had given him the chance to visit many beautiful places around the world, but playing tennis-ball cricket at The Mall against the backdrop of Buckingham Palace would always stay in his memory.

The event was not only about enjoying cricket. While celebrating the love of cricket in India and Britain, it also sought to draw attention to an important subject such as environmental conservation.

In his post, Rahane noted that cricket teaches discipline, teamwork and collective responsibility. In his view, the same values are needed to protect the planet and restore the environment. The Earthshot Prize promotes nature conservation, clean air, protection of the oceans, waste reduction and measures to tackle climate change.

The Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William in 2020, aims to find, recognise and support innovative solutions to environmental problems. Its sixth edition will be held in Mumbai on November 17, 2026.

Rahane said that after this special event in London, he is eager to welcome the Earthshot Prize to his city. He said the experience of spreading the message of environmental conservation through cricket was special for him.