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Tag: Entertainers Cricket League

  • Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) returns, live on Waves OTT

    Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) returns, live on Waves OTT

    MUMBAI: Cricket. Influencers. A digital audience of 900 million. Welcome to the Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) 2025, where content creators swap ring lights for floodlights and step onto the pitch for an electrifying showdown. After a phenomenal debut season, ECL is back bigger, better, and bolder, running from 5-16 March 2025, with live broadcasts on Prasar Bharati’s Waves OTT platform.

    The tournament launches today with a grand opening ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Delhi, led by Delhi CM Rekha Gupta. The action officially kicks off at 6 pm, with a thrilling opening clash between Haryanvi Hunters and Rajasthan Rangers, setting the tone for two weeks of intense competition.

    ECL isn’t just expanding its viewership—it’s expanding its battlefield. This year’s edition welcomes three new teams into the fray:

    – Rajasthan Rangers – Led by Youtube sensation Zayn Saifi.

    – Kolkata Superstars – Headed by digital entrepreneur Pushkar Raj Thakur.

    – Chennai Smashers – Commanded by social media star Mahesh Keshwala

    They join returning fan-favourites like Munawar Faruqui, Abhishek Malhan, Elvish Yadav, Sonu Sharma, and Anurag Dwivedi, all of whom are set to mesmerise their massive fan bases both on the field and across social media.

    ECL’s partnership with Waves OTT is a game-changer, ensuring that every six, wicket, and nail-biting moment reaches cricket and content fans alike.

    “We are thrilled to bring the Entertainers Cricket League live to our viewers on Waves OTT! This season is set to ignite an electrifying showcase of talent, fierce competition, and unparalleled fan energy. With record participation and an unstoppable wave of enthusiasm, we are gearing up for a tournament like never before, and we can’t wait for the action to unfold”, etched Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi.

    “We’re thrilled to have Waves, Prasar Bharati’s OTT platform, as our sponsor for ECL Season 2. Their commitment to bringing diverse and engaging content aligns perfectly with our vision for the league”, elated Entertainers Cricket League founder Himanshu Chandnani.

    “Having Waves as a sponsor for ECL Season 2 is a great addition. Their support strengthens the league, and we’re looking forward to an exciting season ahead”,  added Entertainers Cricket League founder Anil Kumar.

    The ECL 2025 final is set for 16 March at 9 pm, promising a blockbuster climax to a tournament that blends the best of cricket, content creation, and fan engagement.

  • Entertainers Cricket League opens bids for two new teams after blockbuster debut

    Entertainers Cricket League opens bids for two new teams after blockbuster debut

    Mumbai: Following the massive success of its inaugural season, the Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) is expanding by adding two new franchise teams for the upcoming second season. This expansion presents an exciting opportunity for investors to be part of one of the fastest-growing leagues in the country, as the tender process is now officially open. Prospective team owners must register by 25 October 2024, with the auction set for 6 November 2024.  

    The ECL captivated a fan base of over 700 million across digital platforms during its debut season, blending cricket with entertainment and bringing together social media superstars, entertainers, and fans from around the world. The league’s fast-paced T10 format, held at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium from 13-22 September 2024, achieved impressive metrics, including 506,000 peak concurrent viewers on YouTube, 20.56 million TV viewers, and 600 million minutes of watch time.  

    ECL founder, Himanshu Chandnani expressed his excitement about the league’s growth: “The incredible response from fans, sponsors, and entertainers during the first season made it clear that ECL is more than just a cricket league—it’s a movement. By introducing two new teams, we’re giving even more stakeholders a chance to be part of this revolutionary format. The growth potential of ECL is massive, and this expansion offers a rare opportunity to tap into an audience that spans across sports and entertainment alike.”  

    Key Details for Expansion and Tender Process  

    – Registration Deadline: 25 October 2024  

    – Registration Fee: Rs 51,000 + GST, with bidding starting at Rs 3 crore  

    – Auction Date: 6 November 2024  

    – Tender Guidelines: Available upon request  

    – Contact for Information: contact@eclt10.in  

    The ECL aims to expand to eight teams, welcoming business leaders, celebrities, sports enthusiasts, and social media icons to participate in its growth. The two new franchises will help balance the league, create more matches, and provide opportunities for entertainers and cricket enthusiasts. The winning bidders will also have the opportunity to choose their team’s city, adding a personalized touch to their franchise.  

    The league’s inaugural season saw six teams—Haryanvi Hunters, Lucknow Lions, Punjab Veers, Dynamic Delhi, Bangalore Bashers, and Mumbai Disruptors—compete for the championship. The final match concluded with Elvish Yadav’s Haryanvi Hunters defeating Anurag Dwivedi’s Lucknow Lions by eight wickets, solidifying the league’s reputation for delivering thrilling moments in cricketainment.  

  • ECL 2024 announces BookMyShow as exclusive ticket partner

    ECL 2024 announces BookMyShow as exclusive ticket partner

    Mumbai: Tickets for the inaugural Entertainers Cricket League (ECL) 2024, an influencer-driven T10 cricket league, are now available on BookMyShow, the exclusive ticketing partner. The league starts on 13 September 2024 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. ECL season one will feature 19 matches over 10 days, with six franchises and 96 content creators from various industries, including tech, finance, infotainment, gaming, fashion, and lifestyle.

    “With BookMyShow as our ticketing partner, we’re ensuring fans have easy and quick access to tickets for this one-of-a-kind cricket league. The ECL is set to redefine how fans engage with both cricket and entertainment, and we’re excited to welcome them to the stadium to witness their favorite creators live in action.  We look forward to an unforgettable season filled with intense competition and unmatched entertainment,” said ECL founder Anil Kumar.

    Cricket and entertainment fans can purchase their tickets starting today, with prices ranging from ₹150 for general entry to ₹10,000 for premium seats, offering a variety of options to suit every fan. Tickets are expected to sell out quickly, with fans eager to catch the action live. Given the combined following of over 700 million of the influencers involved, demand is high, so fans are encouraged to book early on BookMyShow to secure their spots.

    Also commenting on the partnership, BookMyShow COO – live entertainment & venues, Anil Makhija said, “We are excited to partner with the Entertainers Cricket League for what promises to be a groundbreaking fusion of sports and entertainment. At BookMyShow, we’re dedicated to providing fans with seamless ticketing as well as on ground experiences, and we’re thrilled to bring this unique league to cricket and digital content enthusiasts alike.”

    Day one on 13 September, has two group-stage double-headers lined up, beginning with Abhishek Malhan aka Fukra Insaan led Bangalore Bashers taking on Elvish Yadav led Haryanvi Hunters. The second match will feature Munawar Faruqui-led Mumbai Disruptors against the Anurag Dwivedi-led Lucknow Lions.

    The first game begins at 5.30 pm Indian Standard Time (IST), while the second starts at 8.30 pm IST.

    Following the group stages, the knockout games begin on 20 September 2024. Qualifier one will be played at 5:30 pm, with the eliminator match scheduled for 8:30 pm on the same day.

    Qualifier two is set for 21 September 2024, at 8:30 pm while the grand finale of ECL season one will take place on Sunday, 22 September 2024, at 8:30 pm IST.

  • Entertainers Cricket League live broadcast on Sony Sports Network

    Entertainers Cricket League live broadcast on Sony Sports Network

    Mumbai: The Entertainers Cricket League (ECL), the first-of-its-kind influencer-driven T10 cricket league, is set to be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network, ensuring fans across the country can experience the electrifying action of cricket and entertainment.  ECL, featuring six franchise teams captained by top social media superstars like Abhishek Malhan (Fukra Insaan), Anurag Dwivedi, Elvish Yadav, Harsh Beniwal, Munawar Faruqui, and Sonu Sharma is a unique convergence of India’s love for cricket and the power of digital content creators.

    The league will be broadcast live starting at 5 PM IST on Sony Sports Ten 3 channels, offering fans comprehensive coverage of all 19 matches, played over 10 days from September 13 to 22, 2024, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Delhi. The grand finale on September 22 will have an extended pre-match coverage, starting at 7 PM IST.

    Speaking on the partnerships, Entertainers Cricket League founder Anil Kumar said, “The partnership with Sony Sports Network marks a major milestone in ECL’s journey. We aim to bring the best cricket entertainment to our fans, and this collaboration ensures we reach a wider audience. With Sony’s extensive sports broadcasting experience, we’re setting the stage for a cricketing spectacle like never before – and by bringing social media stars onto television, we are blending the excitement of digital influencers with mainstream sports entertainment.’

    With the combined following of over 100 crore fans across all content creators involved, ECL expects to generate significant viewership, surpassing projections from previous entertainment leagues.

    Six teams namely Punjab Veers. Dynamic Delhi, Haryanvi Hunters, Bangalore Bashers, Mumbai Disruptors, and Lucknow Lions will compete in the ten-day inaugural season featuring 19 matches. Fans can watch all the live action unfold live on Sony TEN 3 & Sony TEN 3 HD.

  • Entertainer’s Cricket League targets 400 crore valuation in first season

    Entertainer’s Cricket League targets 400 crore valuation in first season

    Mumbai: The Entertainer’s Cricket League, the first of its kind social media celebrity-based cricketing league is expected to generate a revenue of over 30 crores in the first season alone. League founders, Anil Kumar and Himanshu Chandnani have rounded up an elite set of captains including Abhishek Malhan, Sonu Sharma, Elvish Yadav, Harsh Beniwal, Munawar Faruqui and Anurag Dwivedi who will pick their own team to compete in this T10 cricket league.

    “The Entertainer’s Cricket League presents a unique opportunity for corporates and brands as it opens them up to the world of Influencer marketing, the fastest-growing vertical in the marketing industry. Not only does this give them direct access to an individual team’s 15 social media celebrities but also broader access to the wider pool of talent that they can associate with. It’s simple, this is a one-stop solution for any brand because they will have 150 creators under the same roof at the same time.” said Entertainer’s Cricket League founder Himanshu Chandnani.

    The creators will each lead one of the six franchises with each team further picking in the form of the draft from a vast pool of 250 popular social media celebrities out of which 96 social media celebrities will make the final cut. These will include popular creators across multiple industries such as technology, finance, infotainment, education, motivation & self-help, and entertainment including vloggers, gaming, fashion and lifestyle from India. The Entertainer’s Cricket League will turn out to be the ultimate experience for content lovers across the country.

    “We are excited to be a part of this huge amalgamation between cricket and culture and are backing our initial aim of building an inclusive community for all kinds of social media celebrities. We look forward to the first step in what will definitely prove to be a legacy league in India and revolutionize the way brands and corporations can optimize their marketing strategies. With the launch of the ECL, we aim to make the community of social media celebrities more accessible for corporations and on the flipside also give smaller celebrities creative and monetary opportunities.” Entertainer’s Cricket League founder Anil Kumar signed off.

    ECL is currently in the process of finalizing broadcasting rights with an undisclosed broadcaster which will only elevate the scale on which this league will reach almost an expected viewership of 100 crore. The league is expected to be played in the latter half of the year.