India, 20th September 2025: Tapping into the massive reach of cricket to drive meaningful social change, SBI Life Insurance, one of India’s most trusted life insurers and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) came together to take breast cancer awareness to the international stage through the Thanks A Dot initiative. As part of this effort, the India’s Women’s Cricket Team took the field in distinctive pink jerseys emblazoned with the Thanks-A-Dot logo during the One Day International (ODI) match against Australia. The initiative highlighted how the unifying power of sport can be used to spotlight women’s health, encouraging conversations around the importance of breast self-examination and early detection as critical steps in the fight against breast cancer.
Ahead of the match, in an exclusive pre-match ceremony Mr. M. Anand, President & CDO, SBI Life along with Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communications & CSR, SBI Life and Ms. Mahima Chaudhry, Actress & breast cancer survivor handed over the specially designed Team India’s Thanks-a-Dot Pink Jersey to India’s Women’s team captain and players – Harmanpreet Kaur, Pratika Rawal, and Sneh Rana which were worn by the players during the match, symbolising the deep commitment to raising awareness for women’s health.
On the occasion, Mr. Ravindra Sharma, Chief of Brand, Corporate Communication and CSR, SBI Life said “SBI Life’s association with BCCI is a purposeful collaboration that transcends sport. Partnering on such a powerful platform allows us to harness the universal appeal of cricket to engage millions, while bringing focus to initiatives that touch families and communities in a meaningful way. With our Thanks-A-Dot initiative, we aim to raise awareness about breast cancer and encourage timely self-examination — turning hesitation into action and awareness into empowerment.”
He further added, “The ‘Thanks A Dot’ logo on the Pink Jersey is more than just a symbol; it is a powerful reminder that awareness and dialogue are as crucial as early detection. At SBI Life, our commitment is to nurture a culture of protection and well-being that empowers individuals and their loved ones, truly reflecting the spirit of ‘Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye.’ By aligning the life-saving message of Thanks-A-Dot with the unifying power of cricket, we aspire to spark conversations that resonate deeply across households and inspire lasting change for generations to come.”
Actor & Cancer Survivor, Mahima Chaudhry said, “Being associated with SBI Life’s Thanks A Dot initiative means a lot to me, as it spreads awareness about breast cancer in an educational way. Having gone through the fight myself, I know that early detection is the key. And the Hug of Life acts as a reminder for women to practice breast self-examination every month.”
SBI Life’s breast cancer awareness initiative, Thanks A Dot (TAD), launched in 2019, aims to engage Indian women by educating, training, and reminding them about the importance of breast self-examination, early detection, and financial preparedness. Continuing its mission to promote early detection, SBI Life’s Thanks A Dot launched Project Hug of Life in October 2023 – wherein 3D lumps similar to cancerous lumps were engraved on the ubiquitous hot water bag which is widely used by women for relief during menstrual pain, making it a unique too to train and remind women to perform regular breast self-examinations, promoting awareness and driving meaningful behavioural change.
To further ensure widespread visibility and fan engagement, with the wholehearted support of BCCI, SBI Life integrated the Thanks-A-Dot initiative across multiple touchpoints during the match:
- The dot ball counter was reimagined as the TAD – Hug of Life Bag. For every 50 dot balls during the Ind vs Aus ODI, 200 underprivileged women will be empowered through the Thanks-A-Dot kit and guided on breast self-examination. The distribution of these kits will be supported by PRADHAN NGO.
- The pitch mat featured the TAD logo, placing the message of awareness at the very centre of the action.
Throughout the year, SBI Life will continue driving on-ground initiatives to keep the conversation going, encouraging women to adopt proactive habits and fostering a lasting behavioural shift towards breast health.
By blending the passion of cricket with the life-saving message of self-breast examination and early detection, SBI Life’s Thanks-A-Dot initiative aims to spark meaningful conversations around breast health and inspire timely self-checks. The initiative underscores that health discussions must move from hesitation to action, encouraging individuals to take simple yet powerful steps that protect not only themselves but also their loved ones. Staying true to the brand’s philosophy of “Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye,” SBI Life reaffirms its commitment to fostering a culture of protection and well-being, where awareness and proactive action empower families to face the future with confidence, strength, and hope.
