Tag: Shane Watson

CIFDAQ Global becomes platinum sponsor for International Masters League 2025

MUMBAI : CIFDAQ Global, a cutting-edge blockchain ecosystem and cryptocurrency exchange, has been announced as the platinum sponsor for the inaugural season of the ‘International Masters League (IML) 2025’ in India. This collaboration marks a strategic move to merge the worlds of sports and blockchain technology, bringing innovation to cricket’s massive fanbase.

IML 2025 is set to feature six legendary teams, captained by cricket icons Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Shane Watson, Eoin Morgan, Kumar Sangakkara, and Jacques Kallis. With these superstars returning to the field, the tournament is expected to attract a global audience, reinforcing cricket’s dominance in the sporting world.

CIFDAQ Global founder & chairman Himanshu Maradiya expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “IML’s debut in India provides the perfect platform for CIFDAQ Global to engage millions of cricket fans. This collaboration allows us to introduce blockchain’s potential and strengthen our global presence.”

Professional Management Group (PMG) CEO Melroy D’Souza, “We are delighted to have CIFDAQ Global as our platinum sponsor. Their expertise in blockchain and crypto aligns perfectly with IML’s vision of delivering a cutting-edge cricketing experience. This partnership will redefine fan engagement and elevate the league’s impact.”

With live streaming on JioHotstar, CIFDAQ Global will gain significant exposure, leveraging on-ground branding, in-game activations, content integrations, and strategic partnerships to educate fans on blockchain technology.

February 24, 2025
The satirical conceit of The Grade Cricketer is that Australian cricket is superior to all else: Sam and Ian

Mumbai: Podcasts have emerged as a popular medium for engaging content, and India is no exception to this trend. Amidst the thriving podcast culture, cricket fans are finding new and innovative ways to connect with their beloved sport. As the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup generates its usual buzz, one podcast, in particular, stands out for its unique blend of humour and cricket insights: The Grade Cricketer.

Hosted by Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, The Grade Cricketer (TGC) podcast has carved a niche for itself in the cricketing world. The podcast offers an authentic and refreshing take on cricket, combining sharp wit with in-depth analysis. This distinctive style has struck a chord with cricket enthusiasts, especially in India, where an impressive 62 per cent of their listeners are based.

TGC has hosted a range of cricketing legends and celebrities, including Sunil Gavaskar, Ricky Ponting, Brett Lee, Wasim Akram, Shubman Gill, Faf du Plessis, Glenn James Maxwell, Shane Watson, Harsha Bhogle, Gaurav Kapur, Tanmay Bhat, Danish Sait, Adam Zampa, Ravi Shastri, Glenn Maxwel, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Titans and Brian Lara, among others.Though they never crossed paths on-field, Ian Higgins’ background in Law and Sam Perry’s in communications have helped them illuminate the rich, dark underbelly of cricket. With trademark irreverence, they chronicle as it really is, with all its complex social dynamics and masculine by-play. In a nutshell, they are fans who say it like it is and that’s what differentiates them from the rest of the publishers out there. Their fans love the original approach and their numbers validate their approach.

TGC’s influence extends beyond traditional media. They command an audience of over 800,000+ on social media and have a highly engaged YouTube channel with over 289K subscribers. Their content has amassed over 36.2M video views and 81.7M+ impressions, demonstrating their strong engagement metrics. Notably, TGC’s average engagement rate of 3.46% per video on YouTube is significantly higher than the platform’s average of 0.40%.

Indiantelevision.com caught up with Sam Perry and Ian Higgins, where both shared their story on the inception behind the podcasts, the memorable experience during the show and much more…

Edited excerpts

On the story behind the inception of The Grade Cricketer podcast

Pez (Sam Perry) founded The Grade Cricketer, which began as a Twitter account in 2011. Soon after a few friends became involved in creating content, including Higgos (Ian Higgins). We expanded the character first through the medium of books, followed by a podcast. Since then, the podcast has become the centrepiece of the venture, but we’ve developed our work through video on YouTube, TV, and live shows.

On striking the balance between entertaining and informing your audience

It’s just a reflection of our personalities and our personal experience of playing cricket. While we love the game, it is naturally unforgiving, so humour is a very helpful lens through which to cope with the pain it inflicts. That said, the humour wouldn’t work if it wasn’t underpinned by hard-won insights. We both played the game for decades, chasing the dream of playing for Australia, accruing homespun knowledge about how it works and, importantly, how it feels.

On Indian cricket fans resonating the most with

We’ll never fully know, but I don’t think it differs too much from other audiences. There’s a lot of cricket narration focused on dry insights and statistics – which is great, by the way. But many cricket fans prefer humour with their cricket, which TGC caters for.

On sharing a memorable moment or episode from the podcast that had a significant impact on your audience

The opportunity to interview Harsha Bhogle for an hour, in-person, was very special to us and resonated with our audience. Harsha has a deep understanding of not only contemporary Indian cricket, but also Indian history, society and culture. For two Australians looking to better connect with and understand the context of Indian cricket, we were truly grateful to receive his knowledge.

On the podcast changing your perspective on cricket and its community

The central, satirical conceit of The Grade Cricketer is that Australian cricket is superior to all else, and we view the game accordingly. Fortunately, or otherwise, doing this show has given us an authentic appreciation of the extent of people’s love for the game, all around the world, and particularly in India.

On your future plans for The Grade Cricketer podcast

We’d just like to continue providing joy and entertainment for anyone who likes humour with their cricket. And who knows, maybe there’s a documentary out there comparing Australia’s main fields with India’s maidans.

June 25, 2024
Star Sports flagship show ‘Cricket Live’ garners immense popularity amongst viewers of ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023

Mumbai: Cricket Live, the exclusive in-depth analysis show on Star Sports, has redefined storytelling during the ICC World Cup 2023, presenting compelling narratives of Indian and foreign players. From Bumrah’s much-anticipated return to Shami’s stellar performances, Virat’s pursuit of glory, and Rohit’s captaincy, the coverage resonated with fans worldwide. The stories extended beyond borders, highlighting Rachin’s journey, Pakistan’s cricketing odyssey, and exclusive confessions from Australian players about their rivals. Adding a personal touch, Cricket Live celebrated the birthdays of stars like Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli, fostering a deeper connection with fans. Not limiting the narrative to players, an anthem titled ‘Tum ho apne saath mein’ was curated for Team India, aiming to galvanize fans in unwavering support of the entire squad. The most watched Cricket show has collaborated with influencers and content creators from across the country to build the fandom for Team India. Fans have also been able to ask compelling questions to the StarCast and get featured on the broadcast via #AskStar.

As per BARC, till Match 34 of the tournament, Cricket Live has captivated a staggering 273 million viewers, with an impressive watch time of 19 billion minutes, a growth of 6 per cent compared to the 2019 edition. Additionally, the show witnessed an uptick of 10 per cent in average time spent by viewers, compared to the 2019 edition. In the pre-show, the first half-hour has experienced the most significant surge, with consumption levels up by 27 per cent, and average time spent per viewer up by 18 per cent. The post-shows have also flourished, boasting an incredible 117 per cent higher consumption and an impressive 38 per cent higher reach compared to the previous edition. Cricket Live on regional feeds (Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada) has grown in consumption by 122 per cent (3.4 billion minutes), compared to the last edition and its viewership has increased by 46 per cent (62.2 Mn), compared to 2019.

In its commitment to delivering an all-encompassing cricketing experience, Cricket Live on Star Sports has gone above and beyond with exclusive interviews featuring Team India heroes. A special content campaign, “We for Virat,” celebrated Kohli’s historic feats, offering a comprehensive glimpse into various facets of his life, personality, and illustrious career. The coverage extended to behind-the-scenes moments, backstories of players from the ICC World Cup 2023, and engaging debates pitting experts against each other on burning topics and contextual big stories of the day. Special segments like “What’s Trending,” “Unboxing,” “Wow Factor,” “Versus,” and “Cheeky Singles” capture all aspects of the World Cup, ensuring a diverse and engaging viewing experience.

Cricket Live on Star Sports is also at the forefront of technological innovation. Utilizing a decibel meter for real-time crowd noise data, holographic teleportation to virtually transport commentators, and 3D-rendered graphics placing players next to iconic monuments like the Gateway of India, have made Cricket Live a visually dynamic experience. The usage of augmented reality (AR) graphics to display stats seamlessly on the pitch, and Quad replay technology to enhance the replay experience for a comprehensive view of key moments have made the cricket viewing and analysing experience more immersive for fans globally.

With a remarkable line-up of former players who have graced the Cricket World Cup since its inception in 1975, the StarCast for Cricket Live served as a treasure trove of in-depth analysis, insights, and expertise. The iconic World Cup winners, including legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri, K Srikanth, Gautam Gambhir, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, and S Sreesanth, graced the panel, bringing their invaluable experience and championship wisdom to the audience. The panel further boasted multiple Former Indian chairmen of Selectors, such as MSK Prasad, Sandeep Patil, and Sunil Joshi, along with the esteemed former India batting coach, Sanjay Bangar.

Adding to the international flavor were former cricket legends and World Cup winners Shane Watson, Aaron Finch, Matthew Hayden, Dale Steyn, Faf Du Plesis, Imran Tahir, Shane Bond, and Paul Collingwood. Their presence amplified the depth of analysis and championship-winning insights, creating a dynamic and insightful panel for Cricket Live viewers.

In a celebration of India’s linguistic diversity and cricketing fervour, Star Sports provided an immersive experience for fans with exclusive broadcasts in various regional languages. The Tamil feed featured former World Cup winners K Srikanth and S Sreesanth, complemented by insights from players S Ramesh and Russel Arnold. The Telugu feed was enriched by former India Chief Selector MSK Prasad, seasoned campaigner, and former Indian women’s captain Mithali Raj, and experienced cricketer Venugopal Rao. The Kannada feed showcased the esteemed presence of former Indian legend Gundappa Viswanath and former India cricketers Vijay Bharadwaj, Vinay Kumar, and Sunil Joshi, alongside local cricketing talents. This diverse and talented roster ensured that Cricket Live not only entertained but also educated cricket enthusiasts with unparalleled insights and perspectives.

Adding a touch of glamour and excitement, Cricket Live has welcomed a plethora of celebrities, including Bollywood Superstars Salman Khan, Vicky Kaushal, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon and the entire cast of ‘The Archies’. South superstars like Shiva Rajkumar, Upendra, Venkatesh Raghupathi, Ravi Teja and more also graced the regional shows. All these celebrities shared their love for Team India, adding a captivating dimension to the cricket-watching experience.

As the World Cup enters its knockout stages, Star Sports is committed to redefine the boundaries of delivering a compelling viewing experience. Upcoming appearances from global pop sensation Dua Lipa, and Bollywood and South stars Ranbir Kapoor, Rashmika Mandanna, and Naga Chaitanya promises an unforgettable spectacle for viewers and fans alike. Cricket Live’s coverage is set to expand with extended 2-hour pre-shows starting from 12 PM across five languages – English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada throughout the knockout stages.

Cricket Live on Star Sports continues to be the ultimate destination for cricket enthusiasts, offering unparalleled insights, entertainment, and star-studded appearances, making it an integral part of the ICC World Cup 2023 experience.

November 16, 2023
Bhilwara Kings secure cricket icons Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, and Shane Watson

Mumbai: Bhilwara Kings are set to make a resounding return in the second season of the Legends League Cricket (LLC), promising a grander spectacle for cricket enthusiasts. As a proud franchise owned by the LNJ Bhilwara Group, a multi-diversified conglomerate, the team is gearing up to compete with three other formidable contenders to seize the coveted trophy.

In accordance with the tournament policy, the LNJ Bhilwara Group has exercised its player retention right by securing the services of Captain Irfan Pathan for the upcoming season. The team has also retained the stellar talents of Yusuf Pathan, the Player of the Series in LLC’s inaugural season, and the formidable Shane Watson. It has brought 12 other players from the pool of more than 200 players in the auction held recently.

Expressing enthusiasm for the team’s return, Riju Jhunjhunwala, Chairman and Managing Director of RSWM Ltd. (LNJ Bhilwara Group’s textile venture) said, “The first season of the Legends League Cricket was enthralling. We are anticipating an action-packed season and are determined to clinch the trophy. We eagerly await the upcoming tournament.”

A total of 19 matches will be played among the four teams, commencing on 18 November. The two qualifying teams will engage in a gripping final match on December 9th. The franchise-based tournament, featuring a pool of over 200 players, will unfold across five cities− Ranchi, Dehradun, Jammu, Vizag, and Surat. Further details about the event and the comprehensive player pool will be announced by the league in the coming weeks.

Excited for the second season for the LLC, Bhilwara King captain Irfan Pathan, said, “I am very excited to be with Kings again. We had a wonderful time last season. We just missed out on one game, otherwise, we were pretty good throughout the season. The management is outstanding. Riju Ji, the boss, has been wonderful. We had a pretty fantastic, packed background team to make sure we had a wonderful time throughout the tournament. The support we get is outstanding. That’s why I feel like it is home. Being back with Bhilwara Kings is exciting and I am very happy about it. Looking forward to the new season, looking forward to the new team. Looking forward to a great season with everyone.”

Bhilwara King Coach Lalchand said, “It’s been a great experience working with Bhilwara King. We were like one family and never felt that we were outsiders. The management was superb, and they never interfered in the cricketing matters and gave us a free hand. I am excited and looking forward to work together in the coming season.”

In the maiden season, LLC achieved remarkable success, captivating millions of cricket fans globally, The LNJ Bhilwara Group secured the second position after a thrilling final against the India Capitals.

October 20, 2023
Rashid Khan joins Sourav Ganguly and Shane Watson to make his fantasy team on My11Circle

NEW DELHI: My11Circle, the fantasy sports platform of leading online gaming company Games24x7 has partnered with popular Afghanistan cricketer Rashid Khan. The champion cricketer will be making his fantasy teams for My11Circle's flagship "Beat The Expert" contest. The prolific leg-spinner joins former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly and legendary Australian all-rounder, Shane Watson, on the platform.

Taking the fantasy gameplay experience to the next level, in 2019 My11Circle introduced the "Beat the Expert" contest — the only fantasy sports contest that allows a player to make a team and play directly with legendary cricketers. Riding upon this product innovation, My11Circle has grown in leaps and bounds to become one of India's top fantasy sports platforms in just one year since its inception in 2019. Fantasy players from all over India have enjoyed testing their skills against Saurav Ganguly and Shane Watson.

During the three-match England- Ireland ODI series starting July 30, My11Circle's latest Expert Rashid Khan will be making his team for every match. Players from all over India can compete with his team for more fun and for winning higher rewards on the fantasy platform.

Speaking on the partnership, cricket sensation Rashid Khan said, "I am excited to partner with My11Circle and make my fantasy team on the platform to play with cricket fans. It is a truly innovative, first-of-its-kind fantasy sports platform that allows fans to play directly with cricketers, and I am looking forward to this experience."

My11Circle VP Saroj Panigrahi said, "My11Circle is already a popular destination for fantasy cricket in India, commonly referred to as the platform where you 'Play With Champions'. We are delighted to associate with champion cricketer Rashid Khan for our "Beat The Expert" contest. India's sports enthusiasts have shown immense love for the past contests as they tested their skills against legendary cricketers Sourav Ganguly and Shane Watson's fantasy teams. We hope new players visit www.my11circle.com and discover the awesome game playing experience."

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July 24, 2020
Motivator’s ‘Pimple’ campaign for Himalaya breaks clutter this IPL season

Mumbai, 18th April, 2016: Motivator, India’s fastest growing media agency (in the last 3 years) as per RECMA 2015 has created a one-of-a-kind campaign for FMCG major Himalaya with close collaboration with ESP Properties, the entertainment and sports arm of GroupM. The innovative strategy for Himalaya Men’s Face Wash will see the brand let go off its logo for the very first time. The campaign rides on a single word ‘Pimple?’, thereby creating intrigue and sparking conversations amongst viewers this IPL.

Himalaya Men’s Face Wash has doubled its market share in its respective product category to current 8% versus a year ago with a strong distribution and smart media planning processes. The brief was to build on the momentum for the brand, where Motivator’s Team Himalaya working on their Frugal Intervention thinking framework seems to have cracked something interesting in the logo attention economy.

The envisaged strategy is being seen as a move to leverage IPL as a platform to target Himalaya’s key consumers by associating with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team. Through the innovative campaign, the problem being addressed by the brand is stated in a single word ‘Pimple?’ visibly inscribed on the caps of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team players.

All the team players will be seen sporting these caps in the ongoing matches of the tournament. This is further supported by the smart use of the lead players – Virat Kohli, Shane Watson, Sarfaraz Khan and Stuart Binny in a teaser film launched on Youtube video masthead and was timed to be played during IPL match breaks using special technology partner.

Giving his views on the overall strategy, Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Business Head, Himalaya said, “Sports sponsorship has always provided an ideal platform for engagement with Men. The Himalaya- Motivator- RCB Team however wanted to bring in innovation in this genre and developed a very engaging brand idea for IPL season. It provided us a great opportunity to build our brand in the growing men’s segment while creating excitement among the IPL fans. We are very excited with the way the campaign has shaped up, and we hope to build on the intrigue that we’ve created amongst viewers thus far.”

Adding on this, Ashwani Gandhi, Category Manager, Himalaya Men said, “It’s been an exciting campaign, performing beyond expectations. In this highly competitive Men’s category, we had to come up with an innovative way to communicate the core proposition of “Curing Pimples” and this idea does just that. With the various fields available for us to associate ourselves, sports was a natural choice and what better than Cricket. Cricketers are known for their performance, fitness, wellness and grooming quotient both on and off field. They become the ideal role model for young men to look upto when it comes to inculcating the habit of looking good and taking care of their skin problems. This communication blends perfectly our core proposition and this outlook towards cricketers, in helping us hit a sweet spot.”

Commenting on the unique campaign that has been rolled out, Zahid Shaikh, Head of South Operations, Motivator said, “In today’s day and age, branding has evolved to become more than just mere flashing of a logo. Moreover, audiences are increasingly connecting with brands on a conceptual level, rather than just plainly on a logo level, as the case has been traditionally. We are thrilled to see that the campaign has received an overwhelming response, ranking up 1.135 million views in just one single day on YouTube. It is further performing well on twitter’s trending charts, after creating a series of conversations on social media.”

“Consumer is exposed to several messages in a cluttered environment through the IPL season. If sponsorship has to work for the brand, it needs to be on the back of an innovative idea that links back to the brands promise. This is truly a brand innovation that spawned beyond just a logo presence and media spends,”opined Vinit Karnik, Business Head, ESP Properties.

April 18, 2016
Motivator’s ‘Pimple’ campaign for Himalaya breaks clutter this IPL season

Mumbai, 18th April, 2016: Motivator, India’s fastest growing media agency (in the last 3 years) as per RECMA 2015 has created a one-of-a-kind campaign for FMCG major Himalaya with close collaboration with ESP Properties, the entertainment and sports arm of GroupM. The innovative strategy for Himalaya Men’s Face Wash will see the brand let go off its logo for the very first time. The campaign rides on a single word ‘Pimple?’, thereby creating intrigue and sparking conversations amongst viewers this IPL.

Himalaya Men’s Face Wash has doubled its market share in its respective product category to current 8% versus a year ago with a strong distribution and smart media planning processes. The brief was to build on the momentum for the brand, where Motivator’s Team Himalaya working on their Frugal Intervention thinking framework seems to have cracked something interesting in the logo attention economy.

The envisaged strategy is being seen as a move to leverage IPL as a platform to target Himalaya’s key consumers by associating with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team. Through the innovative campaign, the problem being addressed by the brand is stated in a single word ‘Pimple?’ visibly inscribed on the caps of the Royal Challengers Bangalore team players.

All the team players will be seen sporting these caps in the ongoing matches of the tournament. This is further supported by the smart use of the lead players – Virat Kohli, Shane Watson, Sarfaraz Khan and Stuart Binny in a teaser film launched on Youtube video masthead and was timed to be played during IPL match breaks using special technology partner.

Giving his views on the overall strategy, Rajesh Krishnamurthy, Business Head, Himalaya said, “Sports sponsorship has always provided an ideal platform for engagement with Men. The Himalaya- Motivator- RCB Team however wanted to bring in innovation in this genre and developed a very engaging brand idea for IPL season. It provided us a great opportunity to build our brand in the growing men’s segment while creating excitement among the IPL fans. We are very excited with the way the campaign has shaped up, and we hope to build on the intrigue that we’ve created amongst viewers thus far.”

Adding on this, Ashwani Gandhi, Category Manager, Himalaya Men said, “It’s been an exciting campaign, performing beyond expectations. In this highly competitive Men’s category, we had to come up with an innovative way to communicate the core proposition of “Curing Pimples” and this idea does just that. With the various fields available for us to associate ourselves, sports was a natural choice and what better than Cricket. Cricketers are known for their performance, fitness, wellness and grooming quotient both on and off field. They become the ideal role model for young men to look upto when it comes to inculcating the habit of looking good and taking care of their skin problems. This communication blends perfectly our core proposition and this outlook towards cricketers, in helping us hit a sweet spot.”

Commenting on the unique campaign that has been rolled out, Zahid Shaikh, Head of South Operations, Motivator said, “In today’s day and age, branding has evolved to become more than just mere flashing of a logo. Moreover, audiences are increasingly connecting with brands on a conceptual level, rather than just plainly on a logo level, as the case has been traditionally. We are thrilled to see that the campaign has received an overwhelming response, ranking up 1.135 million views in just one single day on YouTube. It is further performing well on twitter’s trending charts, after creating a series of conversations on social media.”

“Consumer is exposed to several messages in a cluttered environment through the IPL season. If sponsorship has to work for the brand, it needs to be on the back of an innovative idea that links back to the brands promise. This is truly a brand innovation that spawned beyond just a logo presence and media spends,”opined Vinit Karnik, Business Head, ESP Properties.

April 18, 2016
IPL Auction: No hat-trick for Yuvraj Singh; Shane Watson, Pawan Negi fetch maximum

MUMBAI: Yuvraj Singh is a name that makes headlines every time the player auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) takes place. He has established himself as a marquee asset and expectations are always soaring. However, the 2016 IPL auction saw a new Indian player emerging as the most sought after.

Youngster Pawan Negi went to Delhi Daredevils and became the most expensive Indian player to go under the hammer at the recent auction fetching a price of Rs 8.5 crore, while the Australian cricketer Shane Watson emerged as the most expensive player of the IPL auction with Royal Challengers Bangalore bagging him for a mammoth Rs 9.5 crore.

The left arm orthodox all rounder Negi’s base price was Rs 30 lakh. What a day for the young man, who has just been named in the India squad for the Asia Cup and ICC World T20!

Yuvraj Singh, whose performance last year failed to make any headlines, too garnered great attention. Sunrisers Hyderabad dished out Rs 7 crore for him. Last year Singh’s was won for a whopping Rs 14 crore by Delhi Daredevils.

“Yuvraj will help Sunrisers rake in more money and fans. It’s a franchise that has not had the stardom yet, no big Indian brand has played for the team and now that they have Yuvraj, they can certainly generate higher sponsorship revenue. Fans will also be very happy with the move,” said a sports media planning expert.

Sony Six aired the entire auction live on 6 February and the telecast had a good traction on social media too with #IPLAuction trending the entire day.

The entire list of players who went under the hammer and were bought by the various teams are as follows:

Rising Pune Supergiants

Mitchell Marsh – Rs.4.8 crore

M Ashwin – Rs 4.5 crore

Ishant Sharma – Rs 3.8 crore

Kevin Pietersen – Rs. 3.5 crore

Irfan Pathan – Rs 1 crore

Thisara Perera – Rs 1 crore

Rajat Bhatia – Rs 60 lakh

Ashok Dinda – Rs 50 lakh

Scott Boland – Rs 50 lakh

Rudra Pratap Singh – Rs 30 lakh

Peter Handscomb – Rs 30 lakh

Adam Zampa – Rs 30 lakh

Ankit Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Ankush Bains – Rs 10 lakh

Baba Aparajith – Rs 10 lakh

Deepak Chahar – Rs 10 lakh

Jaskaran Singh – Rs 10 lakh

Gujarat Lions

Praveen Kumar – Rs 3.50 crore

Dwayne Smith – Rs.2.3 crore

Dale Steyn – Rs 2.3 crore

Dinesh Karthik – Rs.2.3 crore

Dhawal Kulkarni – Rs 2 crore

Eklavya Dwivedi – Rs 1 crore

Aaron Finch – Rs 1 crore

Andrew Tye – Rs 50 lakh

Ishan Kishan – Rs 35 lakh

Pradeep Sangwan – Rs 20 lakh

Praveen Tambe – Rs 20 lakh

S. Jakati – Rs 20 lakh

Jaydev Shah – Rs 20 lakh

Shivil Kaushik – Rs 10 lakh

Paras Dogra – Rs 10 lakh

Sarabjeet Ladda – 10 lakh

Umang Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Amit Mishra – Rs 10 lakh

Aksh Deep Nath – Rs 10 lakh

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Shane Watson – Rs.9.5 crore

Stuart Binny – Rs 2 crore

Kane Richardson – Rs 2 crore

Travis Head – Rs 50 lakh

Samuel Badree – Rs 50 lakh

Praveen Dubey – Rs 35 lakh

Vikramjeet Malik – Rs 20 lakh

Sachin Baby – Rs 10 lakh

Iqbal Abdullah – Rs 10 lakh

Akshay Karnewar – Rs 10 lakh

Vikas Tokas – Rs 10 lakh

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Yuvraj Singh – Rs 7 crore

Ashish Nehra – Rs.5.5 crore

Deepak Hooda – Rs 4.2 crore

Mustafizur Rahman – Rs 1.40 crore

Aditya Tare – Rs 1.20 crore

Barinder Singh Sran – Rs.1.20 crore

Ben Cutting – Rs 50 lakh

Vijay Shankar – Rs 35 lakh

Abhimanyu Mithun – Rs 30 lakh

T Suman – Rs 10 lakh

Delhi Daredevils

Pawan Negi – Rs 8.50 crore

Chris Morris – Rs 7 crore

Sanju Samson – Rs 4.2 crore

Carlos Brathwaite – Rs 4.2 crore

Karun Nair – Rs 4 crore

Rishabh Pant – Rs 1.90 crore

Sam Billings – Rs 30 lakh

Joel Paris – Rs 30 lakh

Akhil Arvind Herwadkar – Rs 10 lakh

CV Millind – Rs 10 lakh

Pawan Suyal – Rs 10 lakh

Pratyush Singh – Rs 10 lakh

SK Ahmed – Rs 10 lakh

Mumbai Indians

Jos Buttler – Rs 3.8 crore

Nathu Singh – Rs 3.20 crore

Tim Southee – Rs 2.50 crore

Krunal Pandya – Rs 2 crore

KP Kamath – Rs 1.40 crore

Jitesh Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Deepak Puniya – Rs 10 lakh

Jitesh Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Kolkata Knight Riders

Jaydev Unadkat – Rs 1.6 crore

Ankit Singh Rajpoot – Rs 1.5 crore

John Hastings – Rs 1.3 crore

Jason Holder – Rs 70 lakh

Colin Munro – Rs 30 lakh

R. Satish – Rs 20 lakh

Manan Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Kings XI Punjab

Mohit Sharma – Rs 6.50 crore

Marcus Stoinis – Rs 5.50 crore

Kyle Abbott – Rs 2.10 crore

KC Cariappa – Rs 80 lakh

Armaan Jaffer – Rs 10 lakh

Pradeep Sahu – Rs 10 lakh

Swapnil Singh – Rs 10 lakh

February 8, 2016
IPL Auction: No hat-trick for Yuvraj Singh; Shane Watson, Pawan Negi fetch maximum

MUMBAI: Yuvraj Singh is a name that makes headlines every time the player auction for the Indian Premier League (IPL) takes place. He has established himself as a marquee asset and expectations are always soaring. However, the 2016 IPL auction saw a new Indian player emerging as the most sought after.

Youngster Pawan Negi went to Delhi Daredevils and became the most expensive Indian player to go under the hammer at the recent auction fetching a price of Rs 8.5 crore, while the Australian cricketer Shane Watson emerged as the most expensive player of the IPL auction with Royal Challengers Bangalore bagging him for a mammoth Rs 9.5 crore.

The left arm orthodox all rounder Negi’s base price was Rs 30 lakh. What a day for the young man, who has just been named in the India squad for the Asia Cup and ICC World T20!

Yuvraj Singh, whose performance last year failed to make any headlines, too garnered great attention. Sunrisers Hyderabad dished out Rs 7 crore for him. Last year Singh’s was won for a whopping Rs 14 crore by Delhi Daredevils.

“Yuvraj will help Sunrisers rake in more money and fans. It’s a franchise that has not had the stardom yet, no big Indian brand has played for the team and now that they have Yuvraj, they can certainly generate higher sponsorship revenue. Fans will also be very happy with the move,” said a sports media planning expert.

Sony Six aired the entire auction live on 6 February and the telecast had a good traction on social media too with #IPLAuction trending the entire day.

The entire list of players who went under the hammer and were bought by the various teams are as follows:

Rising Pune Supergiants

Mitchell Marsh – Rs.4.8 crore

M Ashwin – Rs 4.5 crore

Ishant Sharma – Rs 3.8 crore

Kevin Pietersen – Rs. 3.5 crore

Irfan Pathan – Rs 1 crore

Thisara Perera – Rs 1 crore

Rajat Bhatia – Rs 60 lakh

Ashok Dinda – Rs 50 lakh

Scott Boland – Rs 50 lakh

Rudra Pratap Singh – Rs 30 lakh

Peter Handscomb – Rs 30 lakh

Adam Zampa – Rs 30 lakh

Ankit Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Ankush Bains – Rs 10 lakh

Baba Aparajith – Rs 10 lakh

Deepak Chahar – Rs 10 lakh

Jaskaran Singh – Rs 10 lakh

Gujarat Lions

Praveen Kumar – Rs 3.50 crore

Dwayne Smith – Rs.2.3 crore

Dale Steyn – Rs 2.3 crore

Dinesh Karthik – Rs.2.3 crore

Dhawal Kulkarni – Rs 2 crore

Eklavya Dwivedi – Rs 1 crore

Aaron Finch – Rs 1 crore

Andrew Tye – Rs 50 lakh

Ishan Kishan – Rs 35 lakh

Pradeep Sangwan – Rs 20 lakh

Praveen Tambe – Rs 20 lakh

S. Jakati – Rs 20 lakh

Jaydev Shah – Rs 20 lakh

Shivil Kaushik – Rs 10 lakh

Paras Dogra – Rs 10 lakh

Sarabjeet Ladda – 10 lakh

Umang Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Amit Mishra – Rs 10 lakh

Aksh Deep Nath – Rs 10 lakh

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Shane Watson – Rs.9.5 crore

Stuart Binny – Rs 2 crore

Kane Richardson – Rs 2 crore

Travis Head – Rs 50 lakh

Samuel Badree – Rs 50 lakh

Praveen Dubey – Rs 35 lakh

Vikramjeet Malik – Rs 20 lakh

Sachin Baby – Rs 10 lakh

Iqbal Abdullah – Rs 10 lakh

Akshay Karnewar – Rs 10 lakh

Vikas Tokas – Rs 10 lakh

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Yuvraj Singh – Rs 7 crore

Ashish Nehra – Rs.5.5 crore

Deepak Hooda – Rs 4.2 crore

Mustafizur Rahman – Rs 1.40 crore

Aditya Tare – Rs 1.20 crore

Barinder Singh Sran – Rs.1.20 crore

Ben Cutting – Rs 50 lakh

Vijay Shankar – Rs 35 lakh

Abhimanyu Mithun – Rs 30 lakh

T Suman – Rs 10 lakh

Delhi Daredevils

Pawan Negi – Rs 8.50 crore

Chris Morris – Rs 7 crore

Sanju Samson – Rs 4.2 crore

Carlos Brathwaite – Rs 4.2 crore

Karun Nair – Rs 4 crore

Rishabh Pant – Rs 1.90 crore

Sam Billings – Rs 30 lakh

Joel Paris – Rs 30 lakh

Akhil Arvind Herwadkar – Rs 10 lakh

CV Millind – Rs 10 lakh

Pawan Suyal – Rs 10 lakh

Pratyush Singh – Rs 10 lakh

SK Ahmed – Rs 10 lakh

Mumbai Indians

Jos Buttler – Rs 3.8 crore

Nathu Singh – Rs 3.20 crore

Tim Southee – Rs 2.50 crore

Krunal Pandya – Rs 2 crore

KP Kamath – Rs 1.40 crore

Jitesh Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Deepak Puniya – Rs 10 lakh

Jitesh Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Kolkata Knight Riders

Jaydev Unadkat – Rs 1.6 crore

Ankit Singh Rajpoot – Rs 1.5 crore

John Hastings – Rs 1.3 crore

Jason Holder – Rs 70 lakh

Colin Munro – Rs 30 lakh

R. Satish – Rs 20 lakh

Manan Sharma – Rs 10 lakh

Kings XI Punjab

Mohit Sharma – Rs 6.50 crore

Marcus Stoinis – Rs 5.50 crore

Kyle Abbott – Rs 2.10 crore

KC Cariappa – Rs 80 lakh

Armaan Jaffer – Rs 10 lakh

Pradeep Sahu – Rs 10 lakh

Swapnil Singh – Rs 10 lakh

February 8, 2016
ICC announces line-up of ambassadors for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015

MUMBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the appointment of its ambassadors for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The ambassadors include Australian fast-bowler Mitchell Johnson, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, India’s Virat Kohli, Sri Lanka’s former captain Kumar Sangakkara and Australia’s Shane Watson.

The ICC Ambassadors will add their support and considerable profile in the build-up to and during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015; including involvement in the ICC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme and event promotions.

Mitchell Johnson who was delighted to be a part of the group said “I look forward to helping promote what is set to be a fascinating tournament with some outstanding teams gearing up to claim cricket’s most coveted prize.”

Kohli, a star for India in their victorious 2011 Cricket World Cup campaign, commented, “It is a matter of pride to be selected as the ambassador of ICC. As a cricketer, I wish to spread the passion of cricket to grassroots levels and I look at this as an opportunity to unify global initiatives for cricket throughout the world.”

Black Caps captain McCullum, who has featured in the past three World Cups added, “With the World Cup just months away, no doubt all countries will be actively plotting and planning their campaigns. In 1992 our sport captivated the nations of both New Zealand and Australia, and I have no doubt the 2015 edition will do just the same.”

Former Sri Lanka captain Sangakkara, who featured in the 2007 and 2011 finals in the West Indies and India, said he was honoured to have been appointed an ambassador for the forthcoming World Cup in Australia alongside some great players.

Watson, one of the world’s leading all-rounders who tasted World Cup glory in 2007, commented, “Having played in the 2007 and 2011 World Cup campaigns, it truly is a special occasion and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play a World Cup at home against the best teams in the world. To be part of a transition phase that now has us playing quality cricket is fantastic and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing against the best players in World Cricket”

November 13, 2014