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Tag: Jatin Sapru

  • Game on as Sportz Interactive’s Hackathon scores with GenAI fan tech

    Game on as Sportz Interactive’s Hackathon scores with GenAI fan tech

    MUMBAI: Whistles, cheers, and a whole lot of code Sportz Interactive (SI) turned its Mumbai HQ into a digital stadium as the final of its 2025 Hackathon kicked off with innovations that could change how fans watch, play, and engage with sport. In just 48 hours, 17 teams pulled off a blitz of GenAI-fuelled creations, with five standout groups making it to the finale. The line-up of ideas read like a wishlist for sports fans: an AI-powered content management system that cuts costs and boosts speed, a design and calendar assistant that converts live sports data into campaign-ready graphics, and a GenAI “factory” that transforms plain text into mini-games within minutes.

    Not to be outdone, another team showcased an intelligent cricket coverage platform delivering real-time analysis, while a plug-and-play trivia widget promised to keep digital audiences hooked with personalised, context-aware questions fuelled by SI’s proprietary sports data.

    The finale itself felt more like a festival than a boardroom. SI’s in-house band, The SIgnature, opened the day with live renditions of crowd favourites before the coding stars took the field.

    A judging panel featuring Jake Lush McCrum (CEO, Rajasthan Royals), Binda Dey (Group CMO, Knight Riders Sports), sports broadcaster Jatin Sapru, and Nikhil Raghavan (Partner, Marathon Edge) joined SI’s top brass Arvind Iyengar (Chairman) and Siddharth Raman (CEO) in picking the winners.

    “This year’s Hackathon was a clear signal that GenAI is the MVP of the future of fan engagement,” said Raman, adding that the showcased solutions were “a direct look at how sports organisations can connect with audiences in smarter, more meaningful ways.”

    For SI, the event wasn’t just about innovation in theory, it was about testing how AI, sport, and storytelling can collide to create the next era of immersive fan experiences. Judging by the energy in the room, it looks like the future of fandom just got its own highlight reel.

  • Pride of Cows campaign urges consumers to question their milk source

    Pride of Cows campaign urges consumers to question their milk source

    MUMBAI: When was the last time you questioned what’s really in your morning glass of milk? Pride of Cows wants you to ask loudly, publicly, and with purpose. In a bold moo-ve to reshape how Indians think about their daily dairy, Pride of Cows has launched a high-impact phase of its campaign “What’s the Source of Your Milk?”, roping in Faye D’Souza, Jatin Sapru, and Kamiya Jani to stir the conversation.

    At a time when food labels are slicker than the supply chains behind them, the brand is doubling down on radical transparency. Unlike most dairy players that rely on fragmented third-party networks, Pride of Cows sources milk exclusively from its own state-of-the-art farm near Pune. Here, over 5,000 cows are raised with global best practices, and milk is extracted through a fully automated, contactless system then delivered straight to consumers via a direct cold-chain, ensuring zero human touch from udder to doorstep.

    To take this message of traceability to the mainstream, Pride of Cows has tapped credible and familiar voices across media. Faye D’Souza, known for her no-nonsense journalism, lends gravitas to the campaign’s call for consumer awareness. Jatin Sapru, the ever-affable face of Indian sports broadcasting, adds relatability for modern families. Meanwhile, Curly Tales’ Kamiya Jani amplifies the brand’s journey through snackable content that blends storytelling with behind-the-scenes glimpses of farm life.

    “Consumers today want to know more than just what’s in their milk, they want to know where it comes from,” said Parag Milk Foods Ltd executive director Akshali Shah. “This campaign is about restoring trust in a category that’s long been clouded in mystery.”

    Backed by a 360-degree media rollout including print, digital, influencer collaborations, and immersive content, the campaign cuts through the clutter with one bold question: Are you drinking milk, or just marketing?

    With over 20,000 plus testimonials, a loyal premium consumer base, and growing urban curiosity around clean eating, Pride of Cows isn’t just selling milk, it’s bottling a belief system.

    In a world obsessed with food trends, this is a back-to-basics call to clarity. Because sometimes, asking where your milk comes from might just be the most nourishing question of all.

  • Google Pay scores big with ‘Sab Tick Hai Team’ IPL 2025 campaign created by Lowe Lintas

    Google Pay scores big with ‘Sab Tick Hai Team’ IPL 2025 campaign created by Lowe Lintas

    MUMBAI: In a season where every ball counts, Google Pay has swung big with its latest IPL 2025 campaign, ‘Sab Tick Hai Team’, created by Lowe Lintas and rolling out on JioHotstar.

    The digital payments giant is using the country’s cricket fever to cement its brand values—reliability, speed, and trust—into the hearts of millions. The campaign cleverly mirrors the traits of a crack cricket team—swift running, secure fielding, dependable leadership—with Google Pay’s own promise of safe, fast transactions.

    ‘Sab Tick Hai’ is not just a slogan—it’s a lifestyle choice for the cricket-obsessed nation, now extended seamlessly to digital payments. Lowe Lintas has given the campaign a playful, relatable spin, ensuring it blends into India’s IPL-mad summer like cold drinks and tense run chases.

    Adding spice to the mix, the campaign features exclusive pre-match commentary by Jatin Sapru and cricket legend Suresh Raina. These segments, crafted under Lowe Lintas’ creative baton, spotlight what makes a ‘Sab Tick Hai Team’ both on the field and at the checkout counter.

    “Our goal was to capture the essence of cricket’s reliability and camaraderie and map it onto the digital payments experience,” Lowe Lintas said. The result is a campaign that is relatable, punchy, and designed to drive fan chatter between overs.

    By partnering with JioHotstar for IPL 2025, Google Pay aims to tap into the unrivalled viewership and excitement surrounding cricket’s biggest carnival. With Lowe Lintas steering the storytelling, Google Pay is looking to knock brand engagement out of the park this season.

  • Soumi Dey Sarkar wins Star Sports ‘Dream Job’

    Soumi Dey Sarkar wins Star Sports ‘Dream Job’

    Mumbai: Mad Influence, one of India’s largest influencer marketing agencies, and Star Sports, the official broadcaster of IPL 2024 and T20 World Cup 2024, unveiled the Star Sports Dream Job contest, with an endeavour to unearth fresh talent through the power of social media. After participating for almost eight weeks, Soumi Dey Sarkar, a national-level athlete in powerlifting and a runner, has bagged the prestigious Star Sports ‘Dream Job’.

    Star Sports Dream Job garnered an overwhelming response, attracting 5,500 entries from a diverse array of participants spanning across different demographics, geographies, and walks of life. The enthusiasm for the IPL on Star Sports was evident, with entries from differently-abled creators to a Sam Curran look-alike super fan from all the way Australia.

    The top 10 contestants travelled to Ahmedabad for the playoffs, where they captured the match day excitement as Star Sports reporters going live on the national broadcast. The final three contestants—Pramita Mohapatra, Soumi Dey Sarkar, and Aayush Ambasht—were then chosen to travel to Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad respectively for the final challenge. Their final challenge was to report stories from across cities around the buzz of the IPL final.

    Some entries gained significant attention on social media, with one reel amassing over 61 million views, demonstrating the contest’s vast reach and engagement. Overall, the Star Sports Dream Job activation was a unique initiative leveraging the digital ecosystem to discover talent that resulted in being a masterstroke from Star Sports as it accumulated over 310 million views with #IPLonStar across all entries.

    Sarkar, who has been plying her trade as an anchor in other sporting events, will now see herself pick up the mic for a coveted full-time anchoring position on Star Sports during the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup.

    Speaking about winning the Star Sports ‘Dream Job’, Soumi Dey Sarkar said, “This is a dream come true for me. I am grateful to Star Sports for recognizing my efforts, and I can’t wait to work alongside the stars and legends of the game. Anchoring has always been my greatest passion, and now, by winning the Dream Job, I have the opportunity to turn that passion into my profession. I hope to make the most of this incredible opportunity.”

    Mad Influence CEO & founder Gautam Madhavan expressed his enthusiasm, “Collaborating with Star Sports for the Star Sports Dream Job campaign has been an exhilarating journey. Star Sports is the true home of sports and is a benchmark when it comes to fan centric activations. We are glad to partner with Star Sports to roll this historic, one-of-a-kind, and unique initiative that provided a platform for aspiring talents to showcase their skills. Using social media, we now have a winner who will pursue her dream of sports anchoring with the biggest sports broadcaster in India. We are immensely proud of the talent we’ve unearthed and the opportunities we’ve created for these individuals.”

    Speaking about the second edition of Star Sports Dream Job, renowned cricket anchor and presenter Jatin Sapru, who won the title the first time, said, “Welcome to the club, Soumi! Congratulations on this remarkable achievement. The Dream Job will offer you a unique anchoring experience, allowing you to learn intricate nuances and technicalities from a talented team in the studio. This is a life-changing opportunity where your hobby has transformed into your profession. I encourage others to keep pursuing what they love. Your Dream Job might be just around the corner.”

  • Ocean Sharma becomes the first e-sports caster to join IPL 2024

    Ocean Sharma becomes the first e-sports caster to join IPL 2024

    Mumbai: Ocean Sharma, a prominent caster of the country’s e-sports industry, has been appointed as the national presenter for the highly anticipated season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 by Star Sports. This  move marks a historic moment in e-sports and sports broadcasting, as Ocean becomes the first Indian Esports caster to join the world’s premier franchise cricket league.

    Ocean is widely recognised within India’s Esports landscape for his extensive experience and expertise as a caster and game analyst. His notable achievements include casting for official Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) tournaments and global Esports events such as the PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021: League – East, PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021: Grand Finals, and PUBG Mobile Pro League – South Asia Spring 2022.

    For IPL 2024, Ocean will join hands with the league’s national presenters Mayanti Langer Binny, Jatin Sapru, Tanay Tiwari, Suren Sundaram and more to undertake various responsibilities as an anchor and reporter.

    Expressing his excitement about this groundbreaking role in the IPL, Sharma said, “As a passionate cricket fan, being appointed as the national presenter for IPL 2024 is truly a monumental moment for me. It presents an incredible opportunity to bridge the gap between Esports and mainstream sports in India, and I am honored to be at its forefront. With my experience, I am committed to delivering an unparalleled experience for all viewers and cannot wait to kickstart this innings of my career.”

    Having enjoyed an illustrious career in Esports, this will not be Ocean’s first stint in the country’s sporting landscape as he has previously showcased his casting talent in high-profile tournaments such as Ultimate Kho Kho and Pro Kabaddi League.

    “We are thrilled to see Ocean making strides in India’s sports industry after establishing himself as a notable figure in Esports. His journey is an inspiration for aspiring Esports enthusiasts, showcasing that the sector offers lucrative growth prospects in roles other than being a gamer as well. We are confident that his distinctive presenting skillset will enhance the excitement of IPL viewing for fans nationwide,” said Ocean’s business manager and Phiesi founder Ketan Singhal.

    Ocean’s unique content has established him as a distinguished figure in the Indian video gaming community with his Youtube channel comprising more than 858k subscribers and Instagram handle exceeding 450k followers. His inclusion in the IPL star cast is not only an individual achievement but also signifies a significant step forward in recognizing the growing influence of Esports in mainstream sports.
     

  • ScoutOP stars in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 official anthem

    ScoutOP stars in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 official anthem

    Mumbai: Indian gaming sensation Tanmay Singh aka ScoutOP who is part of 8Bit Creatives, a leading gaming talent management agency has become the country’s first-ever gamer to be featured in the official anthem for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 after starring in the exciting video alongside notable personalities including actor Ranveer Singh, composer Pritam, commentator Jatin Sapru, choreographer Dhanashree Verma and creator Be YouNick.

    By being the sole gamer to grace the promotional video of the highly anticipated cricket tournament, ScoutOP has not only made history but has also showcased how gaming is increasingly becoming part of the mainstream landscape in India. His inclusion signifies the growing interest among brands and advertisers to collaborate with gamers as a means to connect with their highly engaging and tech-savvy fanbase.

    Sharing his thoughts on being included in the promo for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, Tanmay Singh aka ScoutOP expressed, “It feels like a great moment of reflection! It shows how far Indian Gaming has come, and also makes me look back to my own journey. Sharing the stage with figures like Ranveer Singh and working with organizations like ICC for the International cricket event of the year, ‘ICC Men’s World Cup 2023,’ is truly special! Thankful to 8Bit Creatives for setting the stage for me to work on projects like these.”

    Following its official recognition as a multi-sport event by the government, Esports has made its way into prestigious tournaments such as the Olympics Esports Week and Asian Games 2022, establishing itself as a mainstream sport.

    “As a cricket fan, it is a personally happy moment as well. Looking forward to working on more audacious projects each day. Thanks to all my viewers & fans for their support in my journey! In India, Esports holds a promising future with increasing recognition, substantial rewards, and surging popularity. The gaming industry has evolved giving rise to a new content ecosystem primarily driven by Esports players, gaming content creators, and live streamers,” he added.

    With more than 4.85 million subscribers on YouTube and four million subscribers on Instagram, ScoutOP is one of the most influential gamers in India. The 27-year-old is part of India’s leading gaming talent management agency 8Bit Creatives which is home to the country’s best gaming talents and has a rich portfolio of curating exemplary campaigns with high-profile brands.

    “This is a big moment for 8Bit Creatives and the Indian Gaming Community. Congratulations to Scout for becoming the first and only gamer to be featured in an ICC Men’s World Cup anthem so far. India’s growing gaming network is the place to get your brand conversations going and we at 8Bit Creatives are proud to open doors like these for gamers,” commented 8Bit Creatives founder & CEO and S8UL co-founder Animesh Agarwal.

    According to the “Windows of Opportunity” report on India’s media and entertainment industry by FICCI-EY, the number of brands investing in Esports in India grew from 72 in 2021 to 80 in 2022, and it is estimated to reach 100 in 2023.

    This milestone will propel the entry of brands to aid the growth of collaborations with gaming creators within the video-gaming industry in India.

  • MX TakaTak introduces Suresh Raina as influencer on platform

    MX TakaTak introduces Suresh Raina as influencer on platform

    Kolkata: MX TakaTak on-boarded famous cricketer Suresh Raina as an influencer on the platform. Raina’s association with MX TakaTak is expected to compel his audience to explore other facets to their cricketing hero that ensures their affection for him and the sport is not limited to the field.

    As a market leader in the short video category, the platform has built a large community of influencers across genres, and Suresh Raina’s on-boarding announcement comes immediately after Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli joined the MX Taka Tak platform. The social media intermediary is not only strategically diversifying its content but also strengthening its sport vertical.

    Raina said: “I believe the love for cricket is everlasting but I am now looking forward to showing my fans multiple facets of my personality beyond the (cricket) pitch. I am very excited to join MX TakaTak, this app is a fascinating place to share some personal moments from my life and engage with newer audiences.”

    Here’s a look at a video that he put up announcing his association with MX TakaTak.

    MX TakaTak is also one of the first short video platforms to host live sessions that enables content creators to reach out to a wider audience. Using this feature to its fullest, Suresh Raina will also go live on MX TakaTak on 30 May, in a session to be moderated by the popular sports anchor Jatin Sapru. The duo will cover a whole range of lesser known topics centred on Raina’s life, his love for music, tips and tweaks of his fitness regime with personal cricketing anecdotes.

  • Frankly.me ropes in commentator Jatin Sapru

    Frankly.me ropes in commentator Jatin Sapru

    MUMBAI: Frankly.me, a mobile application, which provides a QnA platform to the general public is all set to take the thrill associated with the World Cup experience a notch higher. The app will now host the virtual presence of famed sports presenter – commentator Jatin Sapru, who will take queries from cricket enthusiasts via Frankly.me. 

     

    Star Sports presenter Sapru will be answering public queries during live cricket matches while sharing space with well-known celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Shoaib Akhtar. This is for the first time a commentator is connecting to the public directly during commentary intervals. Frankly.me is providing a chance to all the cricket fans out there to come and connect with the cricket fraternity via video selfies.

     

    Frankly.me co-founder Nikunj Jain said, “The team Frankly.me is really proud and happy with the recent advancements in the platform and it’s steadily rising popularity with the empanelment of noted public figures including politicians. With Frankly.me, these personalities intend to understand the masses and their expectations better. This facilitates them with first-hand information directly from the common people and gives them insights which are more perceptive.”