Jaipur: At a unique friendly match on a cricket pitch near Jaipur Junction railway station Sunday, every run was a celebration of revival and every cheer a tribute to the gift of life.Around 70 organ transplant recipients and donors from across the state came together Sunday to play and witness the Champions of Life Cricket Cup 2026 at the railways ground – a first-of-its-kind sporting event in Rajasthan.For the players, the match was about much more than just sport!It signalled a return to confidence after long illness, surgery and the uncertainties that are often part of an organ recipient’s life. For anybody who needed it, the match was also proof that life after a transplant can be ambitious, active and joyful.Another highlight of the event was the women at the centre of the field, with all four teams captained by women and each team including at least two female players.Event conveners Harsh Vardhan Singh and Giriver Sharan Sharma, both kidney recipients and international transplant athletes, said the match was deeply personal.“Organ transplantation gave us a second chance at life, and sports gave us the confidence to live that life without limits,” said Singh.“Through this event, we want to break the misconception that life after an organ transplant is necessarily restricted. Our dream is to see more organ recipients and living donors from the state representing India at the World Transplant Games,” he added.“This match just goes to show that an organ transplant is not the end of an active life, but rather the spirited and upbeat beginning of a new chapter,” said Sharma.Living donors were honoured alongside recipients at the event, giving the day its deepest meaning: one person’s decision to donate can become another person’s second innings.
