Play. It prepares us for learning and life

There are familiar sounds that echo across every childhood — the thud of a ball on dusty grounds, the laughter of children racing through narrow lanes, the rhythm of skipping ropes, marbles, songs and stories.

- Sachin Tendulkar

Children making sense of the world through play is one of the earliest ways in which learning begins.

I recall how, as a young boy, I spent hours playing under the watchful eye of my coach. He would place a one-rupee coin on the stumps and challenge the bowlers to get me out. If they managed, they got the coin; if I stayed unbeaten, it was mine. Those coins remain my most treasured possession — they taught me focus, perseverance, and the determination to keep improving.

Long before scoreboards, stadiums, and international cricket shaped my life, I learnt through play. I learnt teamwork before I understood leadership. I learnt resilience by losing games and built confidence by trying again. Like millions of children around the world, I discovered that play was not merely recreation. It was preparation for life itself.

Today, through my association with UNICEF, I believe this message is more important than ever. Across the world, childhood is changing. Open spaces are shrinking. With academic pursuits and time spent online, the space and opportunity for children to play freely, imagine fearlessly, and interact meaningfully are reducing.