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Tag: Virat Kohli

  • Great Learning places a great bet on the IPL

    Great Learning places a great bet on the IPL

    NEW DELHI: The outbreak of Covid2019 has turned out to be a watershed moment for the ed-tech sector, encouraging brands to acquire new subscribers and expand their business verticals. Both professional and school-level courses have witnessed a spurt in takers during the lockdown period.

    Currently, all ed-tech players are trying their best to leverage the situation and are focusing heavily on different marketing funnels geared towards new customer acquisition. A recent report revealed that popular Indian ed-tech firms have lined up a massive advertising warchest of Rs 500 crore which is being spent on various media outlets to lure and attract new customers for their courses. 

    Ed-tech platform Great Learning has placed a big bet on cricket by signing up with Disney+ Hotstar as a digital sponsor of  the IPL. It launched its first-ever TVC campaign ‘Power Ahead’ in August, highlighting the importance of lifelong learning. The ad film showcases how upskilling in a defined field at the right time can help professionals power ahead in their careers.

    In a big win, Great Learning also roped in Virat Kohli as its brand ambassador who has been featuring in a multi-ad campaign based on the ‘Power Ahead’ theme. The ad tagline reads, ‘Jo Seekhta Hai Wahi Aage Badhta Hai (He who learns, forges ahead)’.

    Great Learning co-founder Hari Krishnan Nair shares that the "Power Ahead"  campaign is playing out on  digital as well as TV and it will not just be limited to cricket. The ads are set to be  hit  40 national channels across categories such as sports, entertainment, news, and music to expand the ed-tech platform’s reach to new geographies and newer audiences.

    Explaining the rationale behind associating with the cricket tournament, Nair describes that the pandemic has fuelled digital and TV viewership, and experts are confident that IPL 2020 will be the most-watched season ever. “Betting on these estimates, we believe this is the right time for us to communicate and consolidate our leadership position through impactful brand communications,”, he says.

    Over the last few years, there has seen a shift in how brands assign their budgets to different mediums. Nair explains that IPL will bring the same ROI for brands because its digital viewership will rise multi-fold. “Depending on the audience one is looking to target, one can find the right balance between TV and digital. We feel that ROI will be leading the strategy as everyone will want more bang for their buck.”

    While a host of ed-tech players are pushing hard to reach the masses, ad creatives  are helping them break through the clutter. The audience for each one of them is not the same, and Great Learning’s target user comprises working professionals and students. “We believe our message of powering ahead and the relentless pursuit of excellence will resonate with our target audience, especially when delivered by our brand ambassador Virat Kohli. We believe he will encourage learners to chase career excellence and inspire them to achieve their goals through high-quality education provided by Great Learning,” says he.

    Over the last six months, the ed-tech firm has seen growth in the learner base on its platform with the launch of the Great Learning academy. There’s been a rise in demand for courses like AI, management, digital marketing, machine learning, cloud computing, and analytics as professionals and students of all hues look to find their footing in the new environment.

    The brand has also launched the Great Learning corporate academy for working professionals, and 700+ companies used it within the first month of its launch to train more than 10,000 employees. Some of the biggest names in the industry – Maruti, UST Global, HDFC Life, BPCL, ONGC, BHEL, HPCL, EcomExpress, EXL and Tech Mahindra – have flocked to the service to train their workforce.

    Nair shares that the pandemic has reinforced the importance of learning new skills more than ever before and has offered an opportunity to people to test the waters and see if online education works for them. During the lockdown period, the company registered a 5X growth in its learner base. And it’s just getting started.

    “We expect the surge to be even bigger over the next few months. It would not be an overstatement to say that the sector is all set to produce multiple unicorn companies over the next few years.”

    According to a media report, there was a 200 per cent increase in Great Learning app downloads in the month of April and May.

    The seven-year-old ed-tech startup has over 5,00,000 users from 140 countries across its post-graduate programme in FY20. Great Learning claimed that customer satisfaction rates remained over 90 per cent across 45 million hours of learning courses.

    It is stepping out from the shadows; hopefully like its brand ambassador Virat,  it will see its efforts being hit out of the park – for a six. 

  • Festive Sale: Flipkart’s star power vs Amazon’s emotional appeal

    Festive Sale: Flipkart’s star power vs Amazon’s emotional appeal

    NEW DELHI: 2020 has been an exceptional year. After months of stress and self-imposed austerity, the festive season is here – and the people are looking to make the best of circumstances, even in the midst of a pandemic. Amazon and Flipkart, the two biggest e-commerce rivals, are all set to start to kickstart their annual festive season sales.

    Amazon’s Great Indian Festival and Flipkart’s Big Billion Day coincide every year, and both e-tailers go head-to-head to garner attention and achieve the maximum sales. To leverage this golden period of festivities, both brands rely on advertising channels, spending hundreds of crores on marketing, to reach out to the masses. This year too, they have been campaigning extensively on ATL mediums to attract more and more buyers.

    While the strategy of these rivals might differ, their purpose remains the same.

    If we look at the last few years of their marketing strategy, it is evident that Flipkart follows the celebrity-driven approach, whereas Amazon focuses specifically on social media and content generation along with its ATL campaign.

    Flipkart has been popular for its media campaigns like Big Billion Day, Kidults, Ab Mehengaai Giregi, Kidding No Worries, and Shopping ka Naya Address. Amazon, too, has some memorable campaigns to its credit: Aapki Apni Dukaan, Kitne me Mila, Apno ka Saath, and The Great Indian Festival.

    As is customary, Flipkart in 2020 has created a number of video capsules featuring celebrities like Virat Kohli, Alia Bhatt, Deepika Padukone, and Amitabh Bachchan.

    According to angel investor and business strategist Lloyd Mathias, Flipkart believes that celebrities help break the clutter and reach a wider audience for its Big Billion Sale. But Amazon has the advantage of ‘connecting’ with its customers.

    "Amazon has worked at building an emotional bond with Indian consumers with their Aapki Apni Dukaan spot highlighting the ease of shopping through the Amazon App. I think both brands' campaigns have been equally effective, though Amazon’s emotional appeals tend to stick. Also, celebrities used tactically are limiting – until they become part of the story,” said Mathias.

    Amazon this year has tried to align with the Prime Minister’s call for atmanirbharta and come up with the tag lines, 'Made by India Made for India’ in addition to ‘Your trusted store for new beginnings’ and ‘delivering smiles to homes' – all aimed at appealing to Indian families.

    Dentsu India EVP and head- strategy Vishal Nicholas feels that Amazon has ironically been baking an endearing Indian-ness into its positioning, quite consistently at that. “Their strategy seems to be to own cultural truths about India, shopping, and relationships, and most importantly to stay the course on this strategy.”

    Agreeing with this line of thought, 22feet Tribal Worldwide business head – north Vishal Mehra shares, “For Amazon, the problem was to connect with the Indian public-at-large and dispel the notions of a foreign behemoth coming in and taking away all the business. To show a softer and more local side of its personality, the Apni Dukaan campaign was launched and since then they have continued using images of family and are even branching into promoting local kaarigars in their marketing outreach.”

    As for Flipkart, its celeb approach is mainly used to bring aspirational value to product marketing, and it could be more effective. “Flipkart’s spotlight sale items are more around individual needs, whereas Amazon regularly pushes products which also involve family usage,” he explains.

    A few years ago, Flipkart launched a marketing campaign for its fashion segment India ka Fashion Capital comprising different celebrities from Bollywood and TV Industry. The videos were used in GEC channels and digital media platforms to maximize reach.

    Amazon has not opted for the celebrity path yet, and usually tries to have two-way communication with the help of social media – be it contests or shout outs – to keep the consumer engaged. The campaign #ApniDukaan focused on the core proposition of the sale: family buying a lot at lesser prices. Last year, it also came up Amazon Festive Yatra, a house-on-wheels concept that took a multi-city tour, to highlight the e-commerce brand’s offerings, especially the home-based and local products. But will it be viable for Amazon to go the Flipkart route in the future?

    Nicholas claims that theoretically, it is still possible for Amazon to go down the celeb path. “But I see no need for them to do whatsoever. Their strategy is to be seen as an e-retailer who ‘gets’ India. So, if a celeb helps them do that, they could consider an apt celebrity if it furthers their cause disproportionately.”

    Having a line-up of celebs in one campaign can potentially magnify star power like never before but only if they are united by the brand’s promise, purpose, or personality, he opines, adding: “Then the stars appear as a ‘team’ and star power works like a harmony – different instruments but a pleasing melody, else they can turn into a cacophony. Take the case of Mile Sur Mera Tumhara or some Nike all-star ads where the purpose is common – national unity in diversity for the former, whereas it’s winning in the case of Nike.”

    Mehra shares that Amazon’s usage of the Indian family has been very wise and has helped it connect deeply with consumers. “The room for family-led marketing might have been limited with Amazon, but that hasn’t made any less impact on their business performance.”

    Flipkart has been trying to woo customers in rural areas and Tier towns through its own brand of consumer products. The brand is expanding its private-label products in categories such as electronics, furniture, large appliances, and staples. While Amazon is also trying to catch up in small towns, its core strength lies in metro cities.

    According to a research firm Redseer Consulting and Unicommerce, shoppers from rural cities, towns, and regions will be the top contributors to online sales during this year’s festive season.

    Also, due to the pandemic, there has been a change in consumer buying behaviours – people are preferring to shop online frequently instead of stepping out of homes. This phenomenon has led both the companies to focus on all touchpoints of marketing. From TV spots to trending hashtags on Twitter, dropping sneak-peeks for exclusive sale items, and news articles on scoring the best deals – all to generate buzz for what’s shaping up to be an exceptional festive sale in an exceptional year.

  • How IPL anthems helped popularise the brand

    How IPL anthems helped popularise the brand

    NEW DELHI: IPL’s electrifying debut aired on 18 April, 2008, and India has been hooked ever since. Every year, more and more people are tuning into the sporting tournament, cheering for their favourite teams and players, and sharing their excitement on social media. The viewership for this ‘grand festival’ of cricket has massively risen and for brands, it’s more like an advertising bonanza. Every year, the latter put their best foot forward to connect with the audience.

    In a similar fashion, both the IPL committee and teams have consistently released interesting anthems to fire up fans and increase the recall of both team and tournament to the next level. It involves roping in advertising agencies and production houses to create films that reflect the audiences' craziness and love for the tournament and the team. 

    Read more news on IPL

    This year is no different. Even though Covid2019 appeared as a deterrent in the early days, the relentless will of players, committee and broadcaster got it all together in the end. The franchise released the anthem Aayenge Hum Wapas, which resonated strongly with people for its ‘we shall overcome’ message. It showcased how people eagerly waited for the tournament and featured stalwarts of the game including the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumra, KL Rahul, and many other players.

    Soon after, Mumbai Indians also dropped the latest avatar of its theme song 'Aala Re'. 

    Interestingly, all these anthems were carefully conceptualised keeping in mind the current Covid2019 situation. Each of them focused on adhering to safety norms, wearing masks, maintaining distance and other precautions.

    Right from advertisers to marketers to the audience, the IPL anthem is something that everyone looks forward to, for the  a spellbinding video supporting it, and over the years it has managed to leave an imprint on the audience. From ‘Ek Happy India Wala’ to ‘Come on Bulaava Aaya Hain’ to the most famous one ‘Jumping- Japang’ by Farhan Khan has struck chords with the viewers.

    With the nation currently in the throes of IPl fever, indiantelevision.com has curated a list of all the anthems and popular campaigns presented by the franchise over the decade.

    IPL Season 1 (2008): “Cricket Ka Dharmayudh”

    Probably the best of IPL promos, the official song of IPL 2008 remains to be one of the most awesome theme songs of IPL.

    IPL Season 2 (2009): “Divided by Nations, United by IPL…

    As the tagline says, the IPL brought nations and rival players together. To this day, it comes across as one of the most meaningful IPL ads, the beautifully-shot video depicts how different cultures from around the world are tied by a sporting event. Back in 2009, the IPL was played in South Africa owing to the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in India.

    IPL Season 3 (2010): “Saare Jahan Se Acha” & “Lautaaya”

    This IPL theme will remind you of Lagaan and Chak De India – two of the most popular sports films in Indian cinema. Also, you’ll be delighted to see how Ayushmann Khurana was shaking a leg to the musical tunes of IPL 2010.

    IPL Season 4 (2011): “Dum lagake mara ray”

    Dum Laga Ke Mara Re was all about peoples’ craze for IPL and its popularity which cuts across demographics and national boundaries. The video showed IPL fans dancing on the streets, even breaking into some of umpire Billy Bowden’s signature moves, to welcome the new season of the sporting extravaganza.

    IPL Season 5 (2012): “Aisa Mauka Aur Kaha Milega”

    The official track of IPL 2012 focused on the theme of ‘opportunity’. Composed by Salim Sulaiman, the song’s lyrics underscored how the IPL promotes young domestic players and allows them to make their mark on one of the biggest cricketing platforms in the world.

    IPL Season 6 (2013): “Jumping Zapak”

    Remember Farah Khan dancing to the tune of Jumping Zapak with people everywhere, be it the station, the office, or any other place? The song had a simple message which was a big hit nonetheless: have fun and enjoy the IPL anywhere.

    IPL Season 7 (2014): “Come on Bulava Aaya Hai”

    Every year from April to June, the nation descends into IPL madness, with many people sitting glued to their TVs for every single match. The concept behind the seventh season’s theme song was: drop whatever you are doing, because you’re invited! Don’t miss out on watching the IPL!

    IPL Season 8 (2015): “India ka Tyohaar”

    The IPL is no longer a mere sporting event, but a full-on festival in India. During its eight edition, IPL launched India Ka Tyohar, which is arguably the most appealing anthem ever and still resonates with people.

    IPL Season 9 (2016): “Ek India Happywala”

    Ek India Happy Wala showed how good elements in the society are what defines a country, and everyone should look for happiness, unity, and harmony instead of negativity.

    IPL Season 10 (2017): “Das Saal Aapke Naam”

    On  This upbeat symphony was dedicated to the tournament’s die-hard fans and viewers, who ensured IPL’s longevity in spite of a host of scandals marring its decade-long run.

    IPL Season 11 (2018): “Yeh khel hai sher jawano ka”

    Inspired from the iconic song Yeh desh hai veer jawano ka in the Dilip Kumar-starrer sports drama Naya Daur, this video of this anthem plays back thrilling moments from preceding seasons of the IPL.

    IPL Season 12 (2019): “Game Banayega Name”

    Game Banayega Name shone the light on newcomers taking on star players in the twelfth edition of the IPL. The lyrics humko bhi ek mauka do encapsulates the rookies’ hunger to prove themselves and determination to make it big.

    Extra innings! Here’s a round-up of a few popular ad campaigns by IPL over the years.

    Bharat Bandh

    One of the satirical promos launched by the franchise was the ‘Bharat Bandh’ ad, which humorously portrayed politicians throwing a fit when they heard about the 51-day nationwide shutdown. The reason? IPL, of course!

    Tashreef Tokra

    Do you still remember Tashreef Tokra? The ad showed a large number of people carrying chairs and making an outdoor stadium in a busy market to watch their favourite game together. The dialogue Aisa mauka aur kaha milega captured the fanaticism of a cricket fan which overshadows everything else.

    Sare Jahan se Acha

    The second edition of the IPL was held in another country. In order to make their homecoming a moment of reckoning, the third season went big with the Sare Jahan se Acha campaign, which evoked a sense of patriotism among people.

  • Edtech brand Great Learning tells perseverance is key to success

    Edtech brand Great Learning tells perseverance is key to success

    NEW DELHI: Great Learning has launched its first multi-film ad campaign featuring brand ambassador, Virat Kohli. The campaign consists of a series of ad films titled, ‘Power Ahead – Jo Seekhta Hai Wahi Aage Badhta Hai’. It focuses on the importance of lifelong learning and showcases how upskilling is a necessary step for students and professionals to power ahead in their careers. The ad films will air across 40 national channels like across sports, entertainment, news, and music. The ad films will also be aired on OTT platform Disney + Hotstar throughout the Dream 11 Indian Premier League 2020, for which the brand is an Associate Sponsor. The campaign has been conceptualized by Sideways and directed by Cornerstone.

    The ad films open with Virat addressing the audience while reflecting on Great Learning’s philosophy of lifelong learning as a necessity for success. Virat himself personifies this philosophy and believes that career success comes to those who are always looking to learn something new, especially in a world where things are changing so rapidly around us. While striking a conversation with the viewers, Virat emphasizes the need to keep learning to stay on top of one’s game. ‘Cricket ho ya koi bhi career jo seekhta hai wahi aage badhta hai,’ he quips in these films.

    Read more news on Edtech brands

    Great Learning CMO Aparna Mahesh said, “We are excited to launch our first set of commercials with Virat Kohli during the biggest sporting event of the year, the IPL. Virat represents the aspirations of Young India. He is someone who is so passionate about his game, pursues excellence relentlessly, and keeps improving through disciplined effort. We believe he will inspire millions of learners to chase career excellence with the same passion and reach their goals through high-quality education provided by Great Learning. This campaign with Virat will elevate the Great Learning brand to a  higher level in terms of awareness as well as a preference when people think of high-quality professional education.” 

  • This IPL season, RCB celebrates Covid warriors

    This IPL season, RCB celebrates Covid warriors

    NEW DELHI: We are living in a new normal and the idea of heroes in the field has got redefined in the past six months as regular people have transformed themselves into selfless frontline warriors who are winning the battle of humanity. During IPL season 13, Royal Challengers Bangalore will be paying a tribute to these Real Challengers through its #MyCovidHeroes initiatives.

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    To acknowledge the efforts and honour the sacrifices made by these real challengers, the RCB team has donned a tribute jersey with the message “My Covid Heroes” both during training and matches for the entire tournament. The message is displayed on the back of both the jerseys. RCB team will also be supporting GiveIndia Foundation by donating the proceeds from the auction of the jerseys that players wear during season’s first RCB match.

    RCB players, through the season, will be celebrating these heroes and sharing some of the inspirational stories on the team’s social media to inspire RCB fans.

    Some of the stories that will be shared through the season include Swati Rawal, an Air India commercial pilot who brought home 263 Indians stranded in Italy;  Sagar Gupta Naugriya, co-founder of Indian Robotics Solutions since 2015- planned a successful launch for their Corona Combat Drone (CCD) to sanitize the overgrowing and stuffy neighbourhoods of Delhi; and Akshay Kothawale, an auto-rickshaw driver in Pune, used his savings to feed migrant workers in the region. 

    During the tribute jersey launch, RCB  chairman Sanjeev Churiwala said, “Royal Challengers Bangalore has always stood for playing bold in the face of adversities and we believe that right now these Covid heroes are embodying this purpose by relentlessly fighting for the greater good. Humanity is going to be grateful to them for many generations to come and through this campaign, we wanted to be among the first to pay tribute to their challenger spirit both on and off the field.”

    Read more news on IPL

    RCB captain Virat Kohli said, “In the past few months, whenever I heard the stories of the Covid Heroes it has given me literal goosebumps. These real challenges have made the country proud and inspired all of us to be more persistent and dedicated to our efforts to build a better tomorrow. I am truly proud to wear RCB’s “My Covid Heroes” jersey as a sign of solidarity and gratitude to everyone who is right now going the extra mile to support the community at large. They have batted day and night and fought on the field, and I am honored to call them my heroes.”

    Wicket-keeper batsman Parthiv Patel also said that the side has adapted to the new playing guidelines during the training sessions and now they are looking to bring a smile on the faces of everyone through playing an exciting brand of cricket.

  • Great Learning ropes Virat Kohli as brand ambassador

    Great Learning ropes Virat Kohli as brand ambassador

    NEW DELHI: Great Learning has today announced the appointment of Virat Kohli, as its brand ambassador. The captain of the Indian cricket team and the world’s #1 batsman, who also topped a recent ranking of India’s most powerful celebrities, will now be the face of the Great Learning brand. He will lead the brand’s latest ‘Power Ahead’ campaign, which underlines the importance of lifelong learning and showcases how high quality learning at the right time can help professionals and students power ahead in their career.

    “Virat is the obvious choice to be our brand ambassador because he best embodies the Great Learning ethos of excellence and continuous learning. He exemplifies hard work, integrity and ambition; values that are critical to reach the pinnacle of success in any field. The respect that he commands globally, across all age groups and the connection that he has with the youth make him the perfect partner to deliver our message of ‘powering ahead’ in one’s career through online learning. We, at Great Learning, are looking forward to this association with Virat through which we wish to spread the message that now, through the high quality online learning offered by Great Learning, anyone can grow and succeed as long as they have the desire and put in the effort”, said Great Learning founder and CEO Mohan Lakhamraj

    Virat Kohli said, “Great Learning is a leader in the professional learning space and has built a reputation for delivering high quality education and career transformations. Upskilling is all about one’s aspiration to get better every day and willingness to work really hard for it. It is something I closely identify with. I also share the same passion for excellence that Great Learning does and am excited about our association.” 

    Great Learning is launching a multi-film campaign with Virat Kohli during the upcoming Dream 11 IPL, where the brand is Associate Sponsor on Disney + Hotstar. The films showcase Virat reflecting on the brands philosophy of continuous learning being a necessity for sustained career growth, something he embodies only too well in his game. The brand also launched its first TV Campaign,  earlier this month, promoting the idea that those who learn are the ones who get ahead in their careers and lives.

  • BCCI launches rap anthem ‘Aayenge Hum Wapas’ for IPL

    BCCI launches rap anthem ‘Aayenge Hum Wapas’ for IPL

    NEW DELHI: IPL 2020, like many believe, will change the mood of the nation and give people a reprieve from all the thoughts haunting the minds in these extraordinary times due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    With only a few days left for IPL to kickstart the thirteenth edition, BCCI has also announced the schedule. The audience can’t keep calm to watch the first opening game, which will be played between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings.

    BCCI has released its IPL 2020 anthem and each of its lyrics reflect the same emotion. Titled 'Aayenge Hum Wapas', the anthem gives goosebumps as it sends a strong message that the nation and the world will bounce back from the disastrous pandemic which has taken lakhs of lives worldwide.

    Sharing the video on twitter, BCCI wrote, “The greater the setback. The stronger the comeback. We can sum it up in 3 words: AayengeHumWapas, Watch #Dream11IPL starting Sept 19 on @DisneyPlusHS, @StarSportsIndia @Hotstarusa #Dream11IPL #AayengeHumWapas #StrongerTogether  #Anthem” 

    The video features all the legends of the game including the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumra, KL Rahul and many other players. It showcases that IPL 2020 is ready to cheer the whole country from the disastrous pandemic and it will lift the spirits again. 

    The anthem says that all the citizens of the nation are players and a strong partnership is needed amongst them. It goes on to add that there is only one answer to the existing problems and that is to not give up and accept defeat.

    IPL is the first big live sporting event happening after a hiatus of four to five months. The tournament will be played in UAE between 19 Sep to 10 Nov with eight teams participating in it. The matches will be aired by Star India on television and the digital medium. 

  • Virat Kohli’s Wrogn joins hands with Animal Planet for the cause of endangered species

    Virat Kohli’s Wrogn joins hands with Animal Planet for the cause of endangered species

    MUMBAI:  USPL’s apparel line Wrogn, in association with India’s leading wildlife channel Animal Planet, is launching a new collection – Animal Planet X WROGN. The apparel range aims to shine a light on the cause of endangered species in a never-before-seen-or-done manner. Conceptualised by Black White Orange, Animal Planet’s licensing arm, each style in the range portrays an endangered animal including the Tiger, Sea Turtle, Gorilla, Sumatran Elephant and Panda, amongst others.

    “I’ve been associated with Wrogn since inception and we take some exciting initiatives season after season. I couldn’t be happier that Wrogn is taking a step in the direction of creating awareness around animal endangerment,” said Virat Kohli, the face of WROGN.

    Discovery managing director – south Asia Megha Tata said, “Animal Planet has been striving hard to drive attention towards the importance of saving the endangered species in impactful ways. We are confident that this innovative collaboration with WROGN for this inspirational apparel line will help in spreading the message of conservation of endangered species as well as the wildlife.”

    Universal Sportsbiz Pvt Ltd CEO Anjana Reddy said, “Animal endangerment is real. It’s a pressing issue and I’m aware that it really bothers the youth all over the world. We like the essence of this collaboration with Animal Planet as it enables people to wear their cause that they feel so strongly about and spread the word at the same time. The rorschach art design is very interesting and hard to miss.”

    Black White Orange Brands Pvt Ltd founder & CEO Bhavik Vora added, “In the tough times the world is going through, it is important to build something relevant. What better way to spread awareness on endangered species among the youth of today, than collaborate with leading players in the segment – WROGN and Animal Planet. We worked closely with the Animal Planet team for almost a year, to conceptualize the art that you see on the range and it's fantastic to see it come to life."  

    The Animal Planet X WROGN apparel will be available in over 250 counters across retail channels like Shoppers Stop, Central, Pantaloons, WROGN’s exclusive stores, Myntra.com and on www.Wrogn.in.

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  • Star Sports launches new show ‘Cricket Connected: Chats’

    Star Sports launches new show ‘Cricket Connected: Chats’

    MUMBAI: Star Sports has introduced a brand-new show ‘Cricket Connected: Chats’ that will help fans catch-up with their favourite cricket stars during the week.

    In an extension to the Cricket Connected brand, the new series will see flagbearers of the sport delve further into how they fruitfully utilise their time during the lockdown and offer advice to cricketers on how to be mentally focused during Covid2019 times. The show will air on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 Hindi from 13 May onwards.

    ‘Cricket Connected: Chats’ will kick-start with the ‘Hitman’ Rohit Sharma’s special interview on 13 May followed by the ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar and Team India captain Virat Kohli each featuring exclusively on May 14 – 15 May respectively.

    In the first episode of the series, Rohit Sharma talks about how he misses bowling. He said, “Since I injured my finger, I’m unable to grip the ball and I can’t bowl the way I used to. Wankhede’s pitch doesn’t give me a chance to bowl, so I stay away from it. In Tests, I try to bowl because that gives bowlers a break. To help the team, I mentally prepare myself to bowl 10 overs in a Test match.”

    In the second episode, Tendulkar doles out golden advice on how players can still use the lockdown to prepare themselves. He said, “I would tell all of them to recharge their batteries. They need to have a little time off as well. When you are playing every alternate day, it’s not so easy to stay on top of the game all the time. It is good to move away from cricket for a while, recharge your batteries. I’m seeing different kinds of training that players are doing on social media.”

    “In addition to that, as far as batting and bowling are concerned, there are physical drills and preparing yourself mentally that one needs to do. They also need to visualise how they can rectify what wrong they did in the past and how they can repeat the good they did. There have been many champions who didn’t have the best of everything, but they made the best of everything they had, so right now, we are in that situation," Tendulkar added. 

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  • Star Sports’ Cricket Connected to celebrate Sachin’s birthday

    Star Sports’ Cricket Connected to celebrate Sachin’s birthday

    MUMBAI: The ‘God of Cricket’ Sachin Tendulkar will headline this week’s special two-part episode on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected that airs on Saturday, 25 April. The part one of the episode will be broadcasted at 7 pm and part two at 9 pm, which will be hosted by Jatin Sapru.

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    Team India legends VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh along with former Australia pace machine Brett Lee have been roped in as the experts for this week’s episode. The growing popularity of the show in English and Hindi has urged Star Sports to introduce the show in its regional channels.

    Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Kannada and Star Sports 1 Telugu are doing a lot to keep the channels engaging and entertaining for all cricket lovers.

    Tendulkar will give a special sneak-peak on how he’s coping with life during the lockdown. The master blaster will dole out interesting tips on how he used to practice indoors and will also help the current crop of professional cricketers with priceless advice on how to stay mentally focussed during challenging times that COVID-19 has posed before the world.

    Tendulkar, urging fans to stay indoors, said on Cricket Connected: “My fans wished well for me for many years. They encouraged me and they prayed for me. What did they pray for? That Sachin shouldn’t get out and I should be at the crease. My wish for them is that they should also not get out. They should also stay inside the crease which means indoors, safe, and healthy. If they are healthy and safe, then I am more than happy.”

    Tendulkar, who ended his glorious career in 2013, also shed light on his fabled ‘Desert Storm’ innings against Australia in 1998 at Sharjah. The cricket legend had smashed 143 against a bowling attack featuring the likes of Shane Warne, Damien Fleming and Michael Kasprowicz as temperatures reached a maximum of 41 degrees Celsius. Tendulkar also recalled some of his magic with the ball.

    This episode of Cricket Connected will also see the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.s) players from the Indian Premier League being extended to fans via polls. Winners from the five categories – batsmen, bowlers, all-rounders, captain and coach – will be declared by popular choice. The episode will also give an insight into Team India captain Virat Kohli’s life during the lockdown.

    Cricket Connected is an innovative concept by Star Sports to fill in the void left by the absence of live events. The show has proved to be that medium for fans to connect with their favourite experts. Each episode has segments that encourage fans to engage and interact with cricketing legends.

    Segments such as #AskStar give fans an opportunity to share their favourite cricket moments by tweeting their questions using the hashtag for the legends to answer. There is also another segment, Kids Connected, which involves young fans and invites them to share home-made videos of them doing commentary.