**Executive Summary**
The Sports Authority of India and the Fit India Movement hosted the “Fit India Hit India” friendly cricket match on May 4, 2026, at the Air India Ground in Mumbai. The event aimed to promote physical and mental well-being, fitness, and community participation by bringing together public servants and film personalities. The match concluded with a 39-run victory for the GST & Customs Amateur Team over the Mumbai Heroes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Event Objectives and Organization**
* **Purpose:** To encourage a culture of fitness, active living, and mental well-being among citizens through the Government of India’s Fit India Movement initiative.
* **Organizers:** Successfully hosted by the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the Fit India Movement.
* **Venue:** Conducted at the Air India Ground, Vakola, in Mumbai.
**Match Highlights and Results**
* **First Innings:** The GST & Customs Amateur Team elected to bat first, posting a total of 170/5 in 20 overs.
* **Second Innings:** The Mumbai Heroes were restricted to 131/9 in their 20-over chase, resulting in a win for the GST & Customs team.
* **Batting Performances:** Akhilesh Kumar scored 57 runs for the GST team, while Navdeep Tomar top-scored for the Mumbai Heroes with 42 runs.
* **Bowling Performances:** Ajit Dan and Pandurang Chate took three wickets each for the GST team; Freddy Daruwala took two wickets for the Mumbai Heroes.
**Awards and Recognition**
* **Man of the Match:** Awarded to Ajit Dan for his three-wicket haul.
* **Best Batsman:** Awarded to Akhilesh Kumar for his half-century.
* **Best Bowler:** Awarded to Pandurang Chate, Regional Director of the Sports Authority of India.
**Notable Participants and Guests**
* **Dignitaries:** Attended by Ms. Prachi Saroop (Principal Chief Commissioner, CGST) as Chief Guest and Mr. BB Gupta (Chief Commissioner of Customs) as Guest of Honour.
* **Celebrity Presence:** The Mumbai Heroes squad featured Suniel Shetty, Sohail Khan, Sharad Kelkar, and other actors, singers, and fitness influencers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Public Servants (GST & Customs Team)**
**Impact**
Public servants were provided a platform to demonstrate the importance of physical fitness and lead by example in promoting a healthy lifestyle.
**Action Required**
Continue participating in community initiatives that bridge the gap between government officials and the public while maintaining personal fitness standards.
**Film Personalities and Influencers (Mumbai Heroes)**
**Impact**
These individuals acted as ambassadors for the "Fit India" message, using their public profile to spread awareness about mental and physical health.
**Action Required**
Leverage their influence to continue reinforcing the message of teamwork and healthy living as stated by Captain Suniel Shetty.
**Sports Authority of India and Fit India Movement**
**Impact**
The organizations successfully reinforced the unifying power of sport and the importance of active living through a high-profile engagement event.
**Action Required**
Continue organizing similar collaborative events that integrate different sectors of society to promote national health initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Fit India Movement: A nationwide initiative by the Government of India aimed at encouraging citizens to adopt physical activity and healthy lifestyles.
Sports Authority of India: The apex national sports body that co-hosted the event to promote fitness and community participation through sports.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports: The central ministry overseeing the Fit India initiative and responsible for sports development and policy in India.
Mumbai: The central location where the match was held, involving local GST and Customs departments and the Mumbai Heroes team.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Public Servants Shine as GST & Customs
Amateur Team Defeat Mumbai Heroes in “Fit
India Hit India” Friendly Cricket Match
Posted On: 04 MAY 2026 8:49PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 4 May 2026
The Sports Authority of India and the Fit India Movement successfully hosted the
“Fit India Hit India” Friendly Cricket Match at the Air India Ground, Vakola, on
Sunday, bringing together public servants, film personalities, fitness enthusiasts,
and sports lovers for an evening dedicated to promoting fitness, active living, and
community participation.
The friendly encounter featured the GST & Customs Amateur Team taking on the
Mumbai Heroes team in front of an enthusiastic crowd in Mumbai. Organised under
the Government of India’s Fit India Movement initiative, the match aimed to
encourage physical and mental well-being through sports and active lifestyles.
The event was graced by Ms. Prachi Saroop, Principal Chief Commissioner (CGST),
Mumbai, as the Chief Guest, while Mr. BB Gupta, Chief Commissioner of Customs,
Mumbai Zone, attended as the Guest of Honour.
Pankaj Singh, Commissioner CGST, said, “Initiatives like ‘Fit India Hit India’ play a
crucial role in encouraging a culture of fitness and well-being among citizens. It is
inspiring to see public servants and artists come together on one platform to
promote healthy living through sport.”
The Mumbai Heroes squad featured several prominent personalities including Suniel
Shetty, Sohail Khan, Sharad Kelkar, Shabir Ahluwalia and Freddy Daruwala, along
with actors, singers, and fitness influencers who came together to spread awareness
about the importance of physical and mental health.Other prominent personalities present included Sudesh Bhosale, Gulshan Grover,
Karsan Ghavri (former Indian cricketer and former MLA), Vishwas Nagre Patil (IPS
officer), Krishna Hegde (former MLA), and Nadim Memon (MCA Curator).
Winning the toss and electing to bat first, GST & Customs Amateur Team posted a
competitive total of 170/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Akhilesh Kumar anchored the
innings with a brilliant 57 off 55 balls, including seven boundaries and one six. He
was well supported by Parag Khanapurkar, who played an explosive knock of 45
runs off just 21 balls, smashing five fours and two sixes. Amit Dhaiya contributed 22
runs, while Aishwarya Surve remained unbeaten on 21.
For Mumbai Heroes, Freddy Daruwala emerged as the standout bowler with figures
of 2/21 in his four overs, while Sharad Kelkar and Rohit Kharb chipped in with a
wicket each.
Chasing 171, Mumbai Heroes suffered an early setback with Sohail Khan dismissed
for 1 in the opening over. Captain Suniel Shetty also departed early after scoring 6
runs with one boundary. Navdeep Tomar attempted to steady the innings with a
composed 42 off 41 deliveries, but regular wickets hampered the chase.
Sharad Kelkar scored 12 runs, while Shabir Ahluwalia added 17. Raja Bherwani and
Rohit Kharb chipped in with 15 runs each, but Mumbai Heroes eventually finished at
131/9 in their 20 overs, handing GST & Customs Amateur Team a convincing 39-run
victory.
Ajit Dan starred with the ball for GST & Customs Amateur Team, claiming three
wickets and earning the Man of the Match award. Pandurang Chate Regional
Director Sports authortiy of India also impressed with three wickets and was
adjudged Best Bowler of the match. Akhilesh Kumar was awarded Best Batsman for
his match-winning half-century.
Speaking after the match, Mumbai Heroes captain Suniel Shetty said, “We have
played so many games and lost very, very few. I don’t think it would be tough to
digest this loss, but we will surely come back harder. I would also like to thank
Mumbai Heroes for being here and giving theireverything. We need to thank Jackie
Dada for all the support he showed both teams, along with Gulshan Grover and
everyone who came out and supported both the teams.”
The “Fit India Hit India” Friendly Cricket Match once again highlighted the unifying
power of sport and reinforced the message of fitness, teamwork, and healthy living
through an engaging evening of cricket and entertainment.
PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee / Priti Malandkar
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