Nita Ambani, founding chairperson of the Indian Super League, hopes the competition will help fulfil her dream to see India qualify for a World Cup.

Ambani – who is also the co-owner of Indian Premier League cricket franchise Mumbai Indians - was at the DY Patil Stadium on Saturday night as Mumbai City recorded the most emphatic victory of the ISL so far – a 5-0 victory over Pune City.

“I’ve been overwhelmed with the response of the Indian public to this inaugural league,” Ambani told Sky Sports.

“We’re going to see how this goes along until the finals which will take place in this stadium on December 20.

“Hopefully we will inspire youngsters to take up this game with a view to fulfilling the ultimate dream which is to see India represented at a World Cup.”

Ambani insists her desire to improve the health and wellbeing of youngsters in India was the driving force behind creating the league.

“This started off with a piece of paper where I was jotting down ideas,” she said. “And now it has been converted into a reality where you have thousands of people supporting this beautiful game of football which is really overwhelming.

“I thought it was important to see young children, girls as well as boys in India, take up any sport, but particularly the game of football.

“For that to happen, grassroots development is so important and that’s what drew me to this project, as well as the chance to create our own football heroes here in India. It’s like a dream.

“I think we need to think of this as a renaissance, a way in which we can help put India firmly on the map as a sporting nation.”

Females in senior roles in sports governance are something of a rarity across the globe and Ambani had this message to girls who aspire to be decision-makers in the world of sport.

“You can be the better boys,” she said. 

“When my parents raised me they never differentiated between what a boy or a girl can do. So every day I just try to give my best and do everything to the maximum sincerity of purpose that I can.”