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Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 1 (ANI): At the Indian Premier League (IPL) owners meet, which was organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), <keyword id="19907060" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Capitals" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Delhi Capitals" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="Delhi Capitals">Delhi Capitals</keyword> (DC) was against the <keyword id="21099854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Impact-Player-rule" source="keywords">impact player rule</keyword> while <keyword id="1494441" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sunrisers-Hyderabad" source="Orion">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword> was (SRH) in favour of seven retentions, according to ESPNcricinfo. BCCI organised the meeting with the owners of the ten franchises to discuss various points concerning retentions for the upcoming <keyword id="19701758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL-2025" source="Orion">IPL 2025</keyword> season. According to the report, the frequency of the mega auctions and the auction purse were among the other points discussed. After the meeting, the Delhi-based franchise co-owner Parth Jindal said that some teams want the impact player rule because it gives a chance to the young players to play in the T20 tournament. "Some people want it because it gives a chance to young players to play in the IPL. Some people don't want it because it is detrimental to Indian cricket in terms of the development of allrounders. So it's a mixed bag. I'm on the second camp. I don't want it. I prefer the game as it is 11 versus 11, and I think allrounders are very important. And you have different players who don't bowl in the IPL or don't bat in the IPL because of this rule, which is not good for Indian cricket," Jindal was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying. The report stated that Sunrisers Hyderabad owner Kavya Maran suggested that "players could be secured via a plain retention process or a combination of retention and RTM at the auction or all exclusively via the right-to-match (RTM) card." As per the reports, the IPL 2024 winner Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) asked BCCI that eight players should be bought back exclusively via the RTM method. The co-owner of Delhi Capitals added that he was 'surprised' to see that few franchises were against the <keyword id="21154992" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mega-auction" source="keywords">mega auction</keyword>. "I was surprised. There was a debate. Some people said that there should not be a mega auction at all. There should be only smaller auctions. I'm not in that camp. I feel that I feel that it evens the playing field and it's very good for everyone. It makes the IPL what it is. It makes it competitive. It makes it an even playing field," Jindal added. BCCI secretary Jay Shah, co-owner of Punjab Kings Ness Wadia, and Kolkata Knight Riders owner <keyword id="19895142" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Shah-Rukh-Khan" source="keywords">Shah Rukh Khan</keyword> were spotted after the meeting. After the conclusion of the meeting, Wadia didn't spill the beans on the discussion that took place during the meeting but stated that the overall discussion was good and that whatever outcome comes will be in the best interest of everyone. "It was a good meeting. Happy to be having a discussion with the BCCI, and I think whatever will be done will be in the best interest of everyone, the fans, cricketers and stakeholders. Maybe the outcome will come in the next two weeks, maybe less or maybe more," Wadia told reporters.

IPL owners meet: Delhi Capitals against impact player rule; Sunrisers Hyderabad want 7 retentions

In a strong reaffirmation of the value of <keyword id="20170941" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="domestic-cricket" source="keywords">domestic cricket</keyword>, Team <keyword id="19895063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="India" source="keywords">India</keyword> captain <keyword id="19899523" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma" source="keywords">Rohit Sharma</keyword> has underscored the importance of tournaments like the <keyword id="19905739" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ranji-Trophy" source="keywords">Ranji Trophy</keyword> in the selection process of the national Test team. Speaking after India's recent 2-0 <keyword id="19907932" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="ODI-series" source="keywords">ODI series</keyword> defeat to Sri Lanka in Colombo, Rohit highlighted that despite the success of the Indian Premier League (<keyword id="19906063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="keywords">IPL</keyword>), traditional domestic competitions remain crucial for nurturing talent. Captain Rohit Sharma acknowledged that while the IPL is a significant platform, its prominence has not overshadowed the value of India's domestic cricket structure. "Our goal has always been to ensure that players who are available participate in the Ranji Trophy. Domestic cricket forms the backbone of our international cricket. Many of the players currently representing the country have risen through the ranks by playing domestic cricket, making it crucial for everyone. We aim to keep it competitive," he said. India's performance against Sri Lanka saw the team struggle notably against spin, leading to batting collapse, in all three games in the post-match press conference, Rohit addressed the issue and reiterated the importance of domestic tournaments in preparing players for international challenges. "When selecting players for Test and ODI cricket, much of the discussion revolves around who is performing well in the Ranji Trophy, the one-day format and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy," he explained. While the IPL has undoubtedly contributed to the rise of several cricketing stars, it has also sparked debate about its impact on Indian cricket. However, Rohit clarified that both the IPL and domestic tournaments play vital roles. "The IPL has its own stature and presents different challenges, but it is all part of Indian cricket, and players excelling in any of these tournaments will eventually be recognized," he noted. Rohit also addressed India's poor batting display in the series particularly against the Sri Lankan spinners. He dismissed the notion that playing on turning tracks was an acceptable excuse for their failures. "Playing spin on slow pitches should not be an excuse. We all play on these kind of surfaces. It is about having a clear game plan and executing it well," Sharma said. Rohit remained the leading run-getter in the three-match ODI series, with 157 runs at an average of 52.33 and a strike rate of 141.4. No other batter from either side totalled 100 runs in the series. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/ola-wants-to-re-enter-the-quick-commerce-business-to-take-on-blinkit-and-swiggy-instamart/articleshow/112364583.cms" target="_blank">Ola wants to re-enter the quick commerce business to take on Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-mpc-meet-cheque-clearing-time-reduced-upi-limit-increased-for-tax-payment/articleshow/112366099.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/rbi-mpc-meet-cheque-clearing-time-reduced-upi-limit-increased-for-tax-payment/articleshow/112366099.cms" target="_blank">RBI MPC meet – Cheque clearing time reduced, UPI limit increased for tax payment</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-curvv-ev-with-up-to-585-km-range-launched-starting-at-17-49-lakh/slidelist/112342769.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/tata-curvv-ev-with-up-to-585-km-range-launched-starting-at-17-49-lakh/slidelist/112342769.cms" target="_blank">Tata Curvv EV with up to 585 km range launched starting at ₹17.49 lakh</a>

Rohit Sharma emphasizes importance of domestic cricket after series defeat against Sri Lanka

<keyword id="20593546" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BCCI-Secretary" source="keywords">BCCI Secretary</keyword> <keyword id="19930802" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jay-Shah" source="keywords">Jay Shah</keyword> says the 'Impact Player' rule, which has divided opinions in the ongoing IPL, can be revisited if that's what the stakeholders want given that it was introduced as a "test case". The impact player rule has had a heavy bearing on the ongoing edition with teams crossing 250-run mark as many as eight times so far. Players, coaches as well as experts have pointed out the challenges which the impact player rule poses to the bowlers, saying that it allows teams to have extended batting line-ups. India captain <keyword id="19899523" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rohit-Sharma" source="keywords">Rohit Sharma</keyword> has stated that the rule hurts all-rounders as they are not getting enough bowling opportunities. "Impact player rule was brought in as a test case. On the bright side, it is providing additional playing opportunities to two <keyword id="20619603" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-players" source="keywords">Indian players</keyword>," he said in an interaction with select media at the BCCI office here on Thursday. "Isn't it important that two Indian players are getting a chance? The game is also becoming more competitive," he added. Shah said all stakeholders will sit down in a meeting likely to be held after the <keyword id="19921630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-World-Cup" source="keywords">T20 World Cup</keyword> to decide on it. "But still, if the players feel that this is not alright we will speak on it. However, no one has said anything about it yet. After the IPL and the World Cup, we will have a meeting and decide," he said. "After the World Cup, we will consult with players, franchise and broadcasters and decide about the future course. It's not a permanent rule nor am I saying we will move past it," he added. Shah said India's T20 World Cup-bound players for the Caribbean and the USA, who are currently busy with the IPL, need no rest as competition is perfect preparation ahead of the mega event. "Why do you want to rest players? This is (as good as a) practice session, you cannot get any better opportunity (to prepare) than this," Shah said. "There is a cosmopolitan team in front of you, one team has a bowler from New Zealand, the other has a bowler from Australia and the next one has a bowler from Sri Lanka," he added. Shah said IPL is the best way to prepare for the Indian players as a Jasprit Bumrah gets a chance to gauge a marauding batter like Travis Head well ahead of the World Cup. "If we rest a bowler he won't get a chance to bowl at Travis Head. When (Jasprit) Bumrah will bowl to Travis Head, he will understand where to bowl to him and how. There is no better opportunity," he said. Focussing on women's cricket" Shah said the focus has also been on improving women's cricket by adding more fixtures to their calendar. "Women's cricket is going on full fledged and it is being managed no less than men's cricket. There is a World Cup in Bangladesh so we have maintained our bilateral relationship and played a series," Shah said. "We have put our focus 51 per cent on women's cricket and 49 per cent on men's because we are doing good in men's cricket so we are taking women's cricket on priority (basis). Their match fees has also increased so they have income as well," he added. However, Shah said there is no possibility of an increase in the number of teams for the Women's Premier League. "Let it be five teams for now. The media and sponsorship rights are set for five years and adding more teams will only create issues for them. The franchises have to sustain as well," he said. 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IPL's impact player rule implemented as test case, can be revisited: Jay Shah

Kolkata: Veteran wicketkeeper-batter <keyword id="19979266" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Dinesh-Karthik" source="keywords">Dinesh Karthik</keyword>, who has been in phenomenal form in this <keyword id="19906063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="keywords">IPL</keyword>, has not given up on his dream to play for India again and would do "everything he can to be in that flight" to the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies in June. Karthik, who will turn 39 by the time the World Cup kickstarts on June 2, was also part of the last edition of the <keyword id="21373295" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20I-World-Cup" source="keywords">T20I World Cup</keyword> in Australia in 2022, which was also his last appearance for <keyword id="20015089" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Team-India" source="keywords">Team India</keyword>. Since then he has become an off-the-field cricket expert, involved in commentary stints. Returning to IPL this season, he has taken his batting to a new level and displayed some astonishing <keyword id="21373296" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="power-hitting" source="keywords">power-hitting</keyword> to strike at a rate of 205-plus. He is also the third leading run-getter for <keyword id="20282652" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="RCB" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="RCB" meta.hostid="83" meta.entityid="RCB">RCB</keyword> with 226 runs, behind Virat Kohli (361) and skipper Faf du Plessis (232). "At this stage in my life, it would be the greatest feeling for me to represent India. I'm very, very keen to do so. There is nothing bigger in my life other than representing India in this T20 World Cup," the RCB wicketkeeper-batters said ahead of clash against KKR . With Karthik's also emerging as a contender, the <keyword id="20183853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="wicketkeeper" source="keywords">wicketkeeper</keyword> slot will be a hotly-contested one for which the Team India think tank may pick two at the most. Making a comeback from a near-fatal accident, Rishabh Pant has also showed positive intent while captaining Delhi Capitals, and Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals), Ishan Kishan (Mumbai Indians), KL Rahul (Lucknow Super Giants) are also in the fray. Karthik said he would respect whatever the Big Three -- coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma and chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar -- decide. "I also feel there are three very, very stable, honest people who are at the helm to decide what should be the best Indian team for the World Cup -- Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar. "And I'm completely with them. I respect any decision that they take. But all I can say is I'm 100 per cent ready, and I'll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup." <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="'I'm no Russell or Pollard'" comment="subhead" text="'I'm no Russell or Pollard'">'I'm no Russell or Pollard'</cmsannotation> Karthik further emphasised the importance of understanding his strengths as a player, focusing on precision rather than power-hitting like an Andre Russell or Kieron Pollard. He said he analyses bowlers' patterns to strategise his shots, visualising scenarios during practice to enhance his batting repertoire. "These days as a player, you need to understand your strengths. I'm not a Russell or a Pollard who can just mishit a ball and get a six for it, rather," said Karthik. The other day Karthik smashed seven sixes and five fours in his 35-ball 83 in pursuit of a record 288 but eventually RCB fell short by just 25 runs. "So, I need to understand how I can beat gaps, what sort of balls I can hit for boundaries. And I realised there was a certain pattern in which bowlers were bowling to me, so I needed to try and work out a solution for that. "Hence, when I practice, I try and understand, okay, if this is what they're going to bowl at me, how am I going to get a boundary, visualising a field that is going to be in place for me. "So, I worked like that, and I worked backwards, and that helped me, you know, really learn a couple of shots more, at the back end. It's been great to go out there and express myself, and it's been thoroughly enjoyable to do what I'm doing for RCB as a finisher," he added.

RCB player Dinesh Karthik declares that he is 100 per cent ready to play T20I World Cup

<keyword id="19906064" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Hardik-Pandya" source="keywords">Hardik Pandya</keyword> believes in leading his life with a lot of grace and he has no issues with people who don't know him one percent but said a lot about him in the middle of his disappointing campaign as <keyword id="19918778" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Mumbai-Indians" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Mumbai Indians" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Mumbai Indians">Mumbai Indians</keyword> captain in the <keyword id="19906063" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="keywords">IPL</keyword>. Having replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain, Hardik was a subject of ridicule and was booed by fans of his own team in the IPL. Mumbai could not qualify for the play-offs and his own performance as captain and player was also questioned. However, he silenced his critics with an all-round show in the <keyword id="19921630" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20-World-Cup" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="T20 World Cup" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="T20 World Cup">T20 World Cup</keyword>. "I believe in grace. A lot was said by people who don't know even know me one percent as a person. People have spoken, no issues but I have always believed in life that you never respond with words, circumstances can respond. "Even difficult times, they don't last forever. It is important to be graceful, whether you win or lose. "It is time for fans and everyone else to learn that (to be graceful). We need to find better ways to conduct yourself. I am sure the same people will be happy," said Hardik after the T20 World Cup final victory over <keyword id="19899437" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="South-Africa" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="South Africa" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="South Africa">South Africa</keyword> here on Saturday. Hardik defended 16 runs in the final to ensure a famous win for his team. "To be honest, I was enjoying. Very few get these life changing opportunities. It could have gone the other way as well today but I see it glass half full and not glass half empty. "I was not taking pressure and focussing on my skill sets. This was a moment written in the stars," he said when asked about the high pressure scenario. Hardik is expected to captain India in the shortest format following Rohit's retirement. The next T20 World Cup is in India in 2026 but he is not looking too far ahead. "2026 is a long time away. Very happy for Rohit and Virat. Very special two giants of Indian cricket who thoroughly deserved this. "Been amazing playing this format with them. We will miss them but this is the best farewell they could get. Happy for them to end like this," added the star all-rounder. SEE ALSO:<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/reliance-jio-and-airtel-price-hike-new-plans-and-how-you-can-save-money/articleshow/111331794.cms" target="_blank">Reliance Jio and Airtel price hike – new plans and how you can save money</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111341281.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/upcoming-cars-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111341281.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming cars launching in India in July 2024</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank"></a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/webstories/upcoming-smartphones-launching-in-india-in-july-2024/slidelist/111304902.cms" target="_blank">Upcoming smartphones launching in India in July 2024</a>

A lot was said by people who don't even know me one percent: Hardik Pandya

New Delhi, The BCCI on Tuesday declared <keyword id="19907058" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="rishabh-pant" source="keywords">Rishabh Pant</keyword> fit to play as a wicketkeeper-batter in the upcoming IPL, brightening his prospects of a national comeback in the T20 World Cup after suffering multiple injuries in a harrowing car crash 14 months ago. Pant, who will once again be back as Delhi Capitals skipper, has undergone extensive rehabilitation and is ready to shoulder the dual responsibility in the event starting March 22, ending weeks of speculation surrounding his exact role in the league. "After undergoing an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, following a life-threatening road mishap on December 30th, 2022, near Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Rishabh Pant has now been declared fit as a wicket-keeper batter for the upcoming IPL 2024," said the BCCI in a statement. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held in the West Indies and the USA in June. A few weeks back, Pant, in an interaction with <keyword id="19925553" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="star-sports" source="keywords">Star Sports</keyword>, had recalled telling his doctor that he would shave off at least six months from his recovery timeline. "I asked the doctor how long will it take for me to recover. I told him that everybody is speaking different things, but you will give me the most clarity about it. He (Doctor) said it would take 16 to 18 months. I told the doctor from whatever timeline you give me, I will reduce six months from it," Pant had told the official TV broadcasters of IPL. The National Cricket Academy had declared him fit a week back after he passed all the fitness tests related to his 'Return To Play' (RTP). It has been learnt that he batted for long hours and more importantly, kept wickets for extensive periods in match simulations organised by the NCA. There was speculation that he might play only as an 'Impact Player' or batter but one of India's biggest match-winners in the past six years has managed to get back in shape to go full throttle. Pant keeping wickets also means that he would have a fair chance of playing the T20 World Cup if he can come up with some impactful innings during the IPL season. "If he can make the T20 World Cup for us, that will be a big thing for us. He is a big asset for us. If he can keep, he can play the World Cup. Let's see how he does in the IPL," BCCI secretary <keyword id="19930802" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jay-shah" source="keywords">Jay Shah</keyword> had recently told PTI in an exclusive interaction. Pant was present at the Capitals table during the IPL auction last year, and has been working on his fitness at the NCA after recovering from the injuries sustained in the unfortunate incident. The accident had left Pant with a severe right knee injury that required a ligament reconstruction surgery besides a fractured wrist and ankle. But he has done well to bounce back. "If there was any nerve damage, there was a possibility of amputation. That is when I felt scared," Pant had said in Star Sports series 'Believe: To Death &amp; Back' which documented his recovery. "I had taken an SUV, but what I was seeing was a sedan," he quipped as he remembered his mangled vehicle. "There was someone around so I asked if he could help getting the leg back in the position. He helped the knee get back in place. "It was the first time I had such a feeling in life. At the time of the accident, I was aware of the wounds, but I was lucky as it could have been even more serious," he recollected. The big-hitter had said the process of recovery was boring at best and frustrating at worst. "I was focusing on recovery cut off from the world. It helped me in recovering fast, especially when the injury is so serious. For recovery, you have to do the same thing every day. It's boring, it's irritating, it's frustrating, but you have to do it," he elaborated. <keyword id="19929077" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shami" source="keywords">Shami</keyword> not to be back before September ======================== The BCCI also confirmed the PTI news report from last month that <keyword id="19895336" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mohammed-shami" source="keywords">Mohammed Shami</keyword> (Gujarat Titans) will not take part in the IPL due to heel surgery. Shami is not expected back before September this year. "The fast bowler successfully underwent surgery on February 26th, 2024, for his right heel problem. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI medical team and is ruled out of the upcoming IPL 2024," the BCCI statement read. Lanky fast bowler <keyword id="19916334" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="prasidh-krishna" source="keywords">Prasidh Krishna</keyword> (Rajasthan Royals), who had an unsuccessful Test debut in South Africa is also being monitored by the BCCI medical team. PTI had reported in January that Prasidh will be out for an extensive period. "The fast bowler underwent surgery on February 23rd, 2024, on his left proximal quadriceps tendon. He is currently being monitored by the BCCI Medical Team and will resume rehab at the NCA soon. He will not be able to take part in the upcoming IPL 2024," the BCCI said.

Pant declared fit as keeper-batter for IPL; set to return as DC captain

Former Australia pacer <keyword id="150099" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jason-gillespie" source="Orion">Jason Gillespie</keyword> has questioned Pat <keyword id="113731" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cummins" source="Orion">Cummins</keyword>' massive <keyword id="6354312" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="ipl" source="Orion">IPL</keyword> price tag, saying T20 cricket is not the quick's best format but backed Mitchell <keyword id="1596377" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="starc" source="Orion">Starc</keyword>'s jaw-dropping Rs 24.75 crore deal. Cummins attracted the second highest paycheck in the auction in Dubai on Tuesday after an intense bidding war between Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Chennai Super Kings, and <keyword id="1494441" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sunrisers-hyderabad" source="Orion">Sunrisers Hyderabad</keyword>, who shelled out a whopping Rs 20.50 crore for the Australian captain. "Pat's obviously a quality bowler and a quality leader, we've seen that. I just don't think T20 is his best format," Gillespie told SEN Radio. "I think he's a Test bowler, personally. I think Test cricket is his absolute bread and butter." It was not the first time that Cummins, who has 55 wickets in 50 T20I matches at an average of 24.54 and economy of 7.37 in T20Is, attracted huge sums at the IPL auction. Ahead of the 2020 edition, KKR had paid Rs 15.5 crore for his services. "He's a good T20 bowler, make no mistake. But that's massive overs for me," Gillespie added. A little over an hour after Cummins landed his deal, Starc surpassed his captain to become the costliest player in the IPL history as <keyword id="262945" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kolkata-knight" source="Orion">Kolkata Knight</keyword> Riders spent a mind-boggling Rs 24.75 crores for the left-armer's services. Starc, who has usually prioritised international duty over playing in the IPL, has played only two seasons of the cash-rich league, taking 34 wickets in 27 games at an average of 20.38. "I think he's a great buy. It's a lot of money, we all acknowledge that, but the IPL is a very rich tournament... I'm absolutely delighted for Mitch. "I think it just highlights how important teams value left-arm fast bowling and left-arm swing bowling at pace," Gillespie said.

Gillespie backs Starc's IPL deal but questions Cummins massive price tag

<ul><li><keyword id="7808714" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="edutech-platform">Edutech platform</keyword> <keyword id="2008319" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Upgrad">upGrad</keyword> recently announced its deal with Star India to run its latest ad-campaign across TV and the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar throughout the tournament.</li><li>We talk to <keyword id="237838" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arjun-Mohan">Arjun Mohan</keyword>, CEO-India, upGrad who spoke to us about the brand’s marketing plans around IPL and how they want to make the most of their association with Star India and Disney+ Hotstar.</li></ul> The <keyword id="6354831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-premier-league">Indian Premier League</keyword> (IPL) is finally underway. While a lot of the fanfare associated with the league is missing this time, the game is finally on and is at last spreading some cheer among viewers and marketers alike. A lot rests on this IPL considering so much marketing activity had been kept on hold so far. Brands are therefore coming up with innovative ways of launching their communications. A lot of new-age brands have invested a lot in this season of IPL with an aim of building awareness and creating a place for them in their consumer’s lives. While the league has just started, we expect things to get further heated up from an advertising perspective as we go deeper into the league. Recently, online higher education company upGrad announced that it has got into a high-value deal with Star India, to run its latest ad-campaign across TV and the OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar throughout the tournament. Since upGrad isn’t the only online education platform that will be advertising during IPL, we thought of asking the brand how they will ensure there is enough differentiation in their campaign. Arjun Mohan, CEO-India, upGrad spoke to us about the brand’s marketing plans and how they want to make the most of their association with Star India and Disney+ Hotstar. Excerpts: Q) upGrad has inked an advertising deal with Star and Hotstar to advertise during IPL 2020. Tell us what exactly this partnership entails and how you as a brand, stand to benefit from this partnership? IPL is one of the most enjoyed cricket tournament across the globe and enjoys viewership from all members of the family. In a move to accelerate the adoption of technology and online higher education, we will be running our recent ad campaign <a href="https://secure-web.cisco.com/1a32faooq9E71aH7MD-jcHrmDRQYoGbevy5SbvbKA5Z_1xVpE7aArEzvajnr5_Lk1Sj_IZsK1ZOGvLLwGHGBiHlyiSBvyU90pa61-I9JM6D9Pos8U9pzDdHSqNRWcX586QZ1bCglWTvADlpxobpr_IHxrUPwUKUC-jKHGrKU3LNRb2iv8_5U5FvEthuGsd_oI4ziRj0Wznvt457kka0JN99S4LXAgBkcQT-AFo1Ihcw6OEDQwQKDzwGbiQRG0DdEd9mqV8bwgl33nMjp6e8DoeCYYqcMrU2gvov2RN74Jrb8Jgdv5zrETTbNnsy0SZG_A_GkhQBiX0FFWPztzm5kRHFPG_GoQqSpw1nq3FpLGUR0/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqB9XzgeRRZw" target="_blank">‘Sirf Naam ki Nahin, Kaam ki Degree’</a> across Star India’s TV and the OTT platform Hotstar throughout the IPL 2020 tournament. The campaign focuses on the importance of education and your qualification being the only correct wayto grow in your career. Q) From a synergy perspective, why did you think a sporting league was a good platform for you to partner with? What do you expect out of this partnership? COVID-19 has revolutionised the online and digital space and has pushed people to move online for their daily requirements. Owing to the critical times we operate in, professionals and individuals are constantly looking for programs and courses to upskill themselves and have an edge over others. There are many players in the edtech space who present a plethora of online options for the learners to choose from. upGrad which is India's largest online higher education company provides quality and industry-ready online programs with renowned universities for seasoned professionals and multiple job-linked programs for first-time jobseekers. We also help our learners with steadfast mentorship and career guidance to help them achieve the desired outcome. Therefore, our association with Star India for IPL 2020 will enable us with the right platform to prepare 550 million viewers for a future-ready career. Moreover, this is our first major sports association and we will also be providing ‘Free Career Guidance’ to help viewers overcome the COVID-19 impact. Q) You have already launched ad film, ‘Sirf Naam Ki Nahin, Kaam Ki Degree’. For the rest of the tournament, can we expect more films, and how do you further plan to engage with audiences? The newly launched campaign ‘Sirf naam ki nahin, kaam ki degree’ will be running across TV and digital platform throughout the tournament. This ad-campaign is a clarion call to the 100 million Indian workforce to grow with cutting edge specializations in the fields of data and management from renowned universities across India and abroad and work towards polishing the existing skill sets and help them grow in their professional career. This campaign speaks about our promise to provide learners with outcome-based specialisations to achieve maximum ROI on education along with employability support. The clutter breaking ad campaign has already garnered over 5.5 million views and we will further engage with the viewers by providing ‘Free Career Guidance’ during the T20 tournament. We will also be engaging with our learners and IPL audience through our social media channels which has over 105K followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Q) How will you extend this partnership to mediums other than TV and Digital? Our current partnership with Star India is only for the Dream 11 IPL 2020 season to promote our ‘Sirf Naam ki Nahin, Kaam ki Degree’ campaign across TV and Hotstar. Q) What does your larger IPL marketing plan look like? Our key objective for the Dream 11 IPL 2020 is to reach out to Bharat and the ~550Mn viewers who will be enjoying the IPL season from the comfort of their homes. Given the glitz and glamour of the T20 League and excitement for a live cricket tournament after months, we feel it is also the most opportune occasion to reach out to individuals reminding them about the urgency to upskill and prepare themselves for the for<a name="_GoBack"></a>thcoming competitive world. Every IPL viewer will know about upGrad and the importance of upskilling and Lifelong Learning by the end of the tournament. Q) What is your vision for upGrad? What kind of growth have you witnessed during these last few months and how has the lockdown fuelled your growth as a platform? The pandemic proved to be counter-cyclical for edtech. We, at upGrad have witnessed significant uptake in terms of traffic on our platform and revenue (we are considering Q4—Jan, Feb, and March—the pre-COVID-19 quarter andQ1—April, May, and June—the post-COVID-19 quarter for the below data). While all verticals have grown in Q4 vs Q1, the MBA vertical has grown by 63% in terms of revenue and 82% in terms of learner base, making it the biggest winner. The MBA vertical includes the global MBA programs we launched earlier this year in partnership with the renowned Liverpool Business School (LBS) and the Deakin Business School. The Data Science vertical, which has always been on a growth trajectory for us, continues to grow with the Master of Science in Data Science, having grown by more than 60% in terms of both revenue and learner base, making it our bestselling data science program in this quarter. This program, with India’s renowned IIIT-B and the UK-based Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), offers a globally recognised, fully online master’s degree. Closer home, our PG Certification in Digital Marketing and Communication with MICA has grown by 70% in terms of both revenue and learner base. Perhaps the program has grown to be the leader with around 40% of the market share. In terms of interested candidates, sheer organic interest for our programs went up by around 120%. Women seem to have taken up slightly more of an interest in upskilling, having grown by around 32% quarter on quarter, as compared to men who have grown by roughly 28%. Both youth and older individuals have been considering upskilling. Our website saw a 42% increase for the 45–54 age group in the AMJ quarter, which is the highest amongst all other age groups, followed by the 18–24 age group, which grew by 40%.

IPL 2020: Every IPL viewer will know about us and the importance of upskilling and lifelong learning by the end of the tournament: Arjun Mohan, upGrad

In a landmark decision, the <keyword id="6354756" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="bcci" source="Orion">BCCI</keyword> on Thursday announced equal match fees for its centrally-contracted female and male players in a bid to promote gender equality in the country's most popular sport. As per the newly introduced system, the Indian women's cricketers will now receive Rs 15 lakh per Test, Rs 6 lakh per ODI, and Rs 3 lakh per T20I, the same as their male counterparts. Earlier, the women players received Rs one lakh each for ODIs and T20Is while the match fee for a Test match was Rs four lakh. The decision was taken at the BCCI Apex Council emergent meeting. BCCI President Roger Binny said, "This decision sets the platform to grow and develop <keyword id="1521" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cricket" source="Orion">cricket</keyword>. I believe this is a significant step forward for women's cricket and the game overall." BCCI secretary <keyword id="210899" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jay-shah" source="Orion">Jay Shah</keyword> said pay equity is an important step towards tackling discrimination. "This is a landmark decision as we enter a new era in India Cricket. I would like to thank my colleagues in the BCCI Apex Council," he said. Earlier this year, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) had struck a deal with the country's players' association, which enabled the women cricketers to earn as much as the male players, while <keyword id="44302" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="cricket-australia" source="Orion">Cricket Australia</keyword> (CA) is also working to do away with gender disparity. India thus became only the second country in international cricket to implement equal pay. In the last two years, which included the shutdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the India men's team has played as many as 21 Tests while in the same period, the women's side has featured in only two one-off Tests on the tour England and Australia respectively. The announcement comes days after IPL chairman Arun Dhumal, who served as the board's treasurer in the last dispensation, said the BCCI treasury has increased by nearly Rs 6000 crore in the last three years. In his note to the members at the last Annual General Meeting (AGM), Dhumal mentioned that when the last team took charge of the Board from the CoA in 2019, the BCCI's coffers had funds of Rs 3648 crores. "We are handing over an organisation that sits over a treasury of Rs 9629 crores of funds, which is roughly thrice of what we got at the time of our taking over from CoA," Dhumal wrote in his note as the outgoing treasurer. "This is remarkable in the light of the fact that the disbursement to the state associations has seen a jump of nearly 5 times; from Rs 680 crores during the CoA tenure to Rs 3295 crores now to the state associations," Dhumal added. On expected lines, the decision was welcomed by the cricket fraternity." It's a historic move. It's a new dawn for women's cricket. Things were already moving ahead. WIPL together with pay equity policy are steps to get women's cricket to where men's cricket is today," the legendary Mithali Raj told PTI when called for her reaction." As a member of the women's cricket fraternity, I thank the BCCI and honorary secretary, Jay Shah, for this announcement. We are already witnessing the growth and popularity of women's cricket from 2017 till now. It's a great move in the right direction." Outgoing Apex Council member and former India player Shantha Rangaswamy, who attended the meeting, said, "This is a revolutionary decision by the BCCI. The decision shows that India treats its women equally and there is no gender discrimination. Would like to thank Jay Shah, Roger Binny and Rajeev Shukla for taking this momentous decision." Former India player Harbhajan Singh also hailed the BCCI's decision to bring parity in the match fee. "BCCI has set a standard for other sports bodies. It will encourage greater participation of women in the game. A historic milestone indeed!," the spin great wrote on Twitter. Recently, the Indian women's cricket team triumphed in the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets. The team also won the country's first-ever silver medal in cricket at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham earlier this year. In the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) of BCCI, the cricket board also announced the first-ever women's IPL that is scheduled to take place next year. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/61-professionals-tell-their-families-what-they-earn-not-co-workers-or-friends-survey/articleshow/95113395.cms">61% professionals tell their families what they earn, not co-workers or friends: survey</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/world-champion-arm-wrestler-margaret-pathaw-gets-rs-5-lakh-award-from-meghalaya-govt/articleshow/95116073.cms">World champion arm wrestler Margaret Pathaw gets Rs 5 lakh award from Meghalaya govt</a>

BCCI bridges the gender pay gap, announces equal match fees to male and female players

India's batting legend Sachin <keyword id="6391" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="tendulkar" source="Orion">Tendulkar</keyword> has omitted the likes of Royal Challengers Bangalore cricketer Virat Kohli and Mumbai Indians skipper <keyword id="13937" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rohit-sharma" source="Orion">Rohit Sharma</keyword> from his list of the "Best Playing XI" from the just-concluded IPL 2022 season. While Gujarat Titans, led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, went on to lift the trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets, the Rohit Sharma-led MI had the worst season this year, finishing 10th and last. Tendulkar said his list was based purely on the performance of this IPL season and had nothing to do with previous editions. And, in this edition of the IPL, both <keyword id="445" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="sharma" source="Orion">Sharma</keyword> and Kohli performed miserably, even though the latter's side made it to the playoffs stage. "It's got nothing to do with players' reputation or their past performances. It is purely based on their performances this season and what they have been able to achieve this season," Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel. Tendulkar's team, led by Hardik Pandya, has the likes of charismatic England batter Jos Buttler -- who scored a whopping 863 runs for the Royals --, <keyword id="17805" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="shikhar-dhawan" source="Orion">Shikhar Dhawan</keyword>, KL Rahul, David Miller, Liam Livingstone, Dinesh Karthik, <keyword id="62359" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rashid-khan" source="Orion">Rashid Khan</keyword>, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and <keyword id="798176" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="yuzvendra-chahal" source="Orion">Yuzvendra Chahal</keyword>. "Hardik was the standout captain this season. He was clear in his mind, proactive. I always say that don't regret, celebrate. If you are able to celebrate, it means the captain is outsmarting the opposition and that is what Hardik did," opined the legend. Tendulkar said that he would pick a left-right combination at the top of the batting order, and that Buttler and Dhawan were the best this season. With Buttler emerging the second-highest run-getter ever in a single IPL season and Dhawan also scoring 460 runs in 14 matches, the choice was easy to make for the former cricketer. Tendulkar then picked Lucknow Super Gianst skipper KL Rahul at No.3. The hot-shot batter scored 616 runs in 15 innings and was only surpassed by Buttler this season. "I really like his stability and consistency. He is a player who can pick singles and when he wants to hit sixes he has the ability to do that as well," said Tendulkar. Tendulkar's logic behind bringing Pandya at No. 4 and his teammate David Miller at No. 5 was that a left-right combination lent solidity in the middle overs. "Bringing another left hander here because the left-right combination is important. There are a number of names who were there but I am going to play David Miller. He showed tremendous form, very good consistency and played some crucial knocks. What I observed this season was that he was able to hit towards all sides of the ground. It was proper cricketing shots and it was a treat to watch." At No. 6, Tendulkar had hard-hitter Liam Livingstone, followed by RCB's slog-ver specialist Dinesh Karthik. "(Livingston) has the ability to hit sixes, dangerous player. He is very clear in his mind and backs himself. Dinesh Karthik showed extraordinary consistency this season. I felt he looked calm and composed. He looked in control," Tendulkar said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/uber-eats-fired-indian-origin-delivery-partner-for-allegedly-arriving-10-minutes-late-after-working-96-hours/articleshow/91908619.cms">Uber Eats fired Indian-origin delivery partner for allegedly arriving 10 minutes late after working 96 hours</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/wheat-export-ban-seems-to-be-taking-effect-as-atta-prices-soften/articleshow/91908520.cms">Wheat export ban seems to be taking effect as atta prices soften</a>

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missing in Tendulkar's 'Best Playing XI' for IPL 2022

The annual Twenty20 extravaganza, the Indian Premier League (<keyword id="6354312" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="IPL">IPL</keyword>) is just two months away from its 10th edition and before the glittering tournament begins, all eyes are now on the IPL auction where all franchises are making a hard bargain for their chosen players. The key auction took place in <keyword id="6354321" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru">Bengaluru</keyword> on Monday. 
 The auction is the most important part of the popular <keyword id="18238" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="T20">T20</keyword> league as franchises with brimming coffers fight it out to bag the best talent. IPL deals have changed many young cricketers’ lives as money was the main reason the Indian franchise-based T20 league attracted overseas players over the years. 
 
These are the top most costly players in this IPL 2017

These are the 10 most costly IPL players

<ul><li>As IPL’s bio bubble breaches and two players Varun Chakravarthy, Sandeep Warrier test positive for COVID-19, BCCI has suspended IPL for this season. </li><li>Experts tell us about the impact cancellation of India’s biggest sporting tournament and advertising extravaganza can have on our brands and the media industry.</li></ul>Indian Premier League (IPL), one of the most keenly awaited events in India, has also felt the heat of Coronavirus. Over the last two days, several players from three IPL teams have tested COVID positive. This includes Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier, Delhi Capitals’ (DC) Amit Mishra and now, SRH’s Wriddhiman Saha. After much criticism, BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla has finally announced today that IPL has been suspended for this season. While the recent spike in COVID cases has brought our country to a grinding halt and forced every sporting activity to be either postponed indefinitely or cancelled, IPL continued, becoming an escape from the grim reality for many. It was acting as a bandaid on our wounds -- temporary yet effective. IPL is also one of the biggest advertising carnivals and this year, reports indicate that more brands have invested in the tournament. According to TAM Sports, average ad volumes during the first 22 matches of IPL 14 grew by 2% compared to IPL 13. Tally of categories grew by 10%, whereas count of advertisers and brands decreased by 3% and 9% respectively in IPL 14 than IPL 13. When brands started buying ad spots on IPL and bidding on the sponsorship deals, the COVID cases in India were going down and the economy was improving. Advertising agencies usually work on their IPL pitches for at least two months and spend many sleepless nights executing their ideas. Media planning and buying agencies also wait for IPL to buy the best deal for their clients. However, the situation is getting severe with each passing day. Given the gravity of the pandemic in India, there has been an ongoing debate on whether IPL should be pulled down. Now, after a few players have tested positive and the bio bubble has been breached, BCCI has decided to suspend IPL. We reached out to experts to understand how cancellation of IPL can impact brands. Vani Gupta Dandia, Founder, CherryPeachPlum Growth said cancellation might add to consumers' anxiety. "I understand there are a lot of us in dire circumstances but canceling IPL doesn't help people get well. It's a welcome distraction from the otherwise grim news we're inundated with. Cancellation will also cause further anxiety and fear - we need some markers of normality. Lives, livelihoods, and mental wellness are all important in equal measure," said she. Lloyd Mathias, Business Strategist and former Marketing Head of PepsiCo, Motorola and HP APAC said, “The continuation of the IPL amidst the pandemic is questionable now, given that the secure bio bubbles have been breached. But even aside from this breach, the continuation points to a certain disregard for the suffering and misery millions of Indians are facing.” A Duff &amp; Phelps’ report had recently said that the value of the IPL Ecosystem was estimated to be impacted by nearly $1 billion only due to cancellation and without capturing the impact of the economic slowdown that might follow. Last year too, the pandemic had made a dent on the league. The IPL Ecosystem’s value plunged by 3.6% to Rs 45,800 crore during season 13 from Rs 47,500 crore IPL 2019. The report further said that this was largely due to Vivo pulling out of the title sponsorship deal, additional costs involved to create a secure bio-bubble environment, lack of gate receipts, etc. The individual franchisees also saw a reduction in their brand values in 2020 compared to 2019, largely due to reduced franchisee-related sponsorship revenue, loss of gate receipts, reduced food and beverage (F&amp;B) revenue, and certain teams’ on-field performances and off-the-field issues. The new sponsor, Dream11, had entered at a steep discount, and the IPL had to take a hit of Rs 218 crores in sponsorship revenues in 2020. However, Mathias reminded us that BCCI insures IPL. “If the IPL does get called off at this stage it will certainly hurt financially, but remember the BCCI is a very rich body, and this financial loss is an insignificant price to pay in comparison to the larger catastrophe all around. Also, insurance may help cover part of the damages, suffered by the teams, the sponsors, and the broadcaster,” said he. Star Sports has roped in 18 sponsors and over 100 advertisers across multiple brand categories and many small businesses have invested a large amount of their marketing budget on IPL this year. BCCI has also gone all out in its bid to host IPL this year. According to media reports, BCCI is slated to earn Rs 3,500 crore in advertising revenue from the 2021 season. Star charged around Rs 8 to 10 lakh for a 10 seconder last year. Star has previously charged brands Rs 25 lakh for 10-second slots during the India vs Pakistan ICC World Cup match and between Rs 16 to 18 lakh for other World Cup matches. In comparison, the IPL ad charges are still reasonable but the rates are among the costliest for a programme in the country. So, how badly will this hurt Indian brands? Karthik Srinivasan, Social Media Expert and Independent Brand Consultant, answered, “I don't think the brands, per se, would be impacted, not at least in terms of branding. They are already hugely affected in terms of demand, and sales, because the 2nd wave has washed over everything else.” Three days before IPL began, the number of positive cases in India had crossed 1,25,89,067, and the death toll stood at 165K -- and it was growing with each passing day. Harish Bijoor, Brand Guru and Founder, Harish Bijoor Consults Inc said that brands would have analysed every situation before the tournament began. Bijoor said, “The pandemic is all about uncertainty. IPL and its fixtures are part of this uncertainty. Yes, brands will have their plans tampered with, especially with IPL money outlays kept in mind. However, the important point is that health comes before everything else. The bubble has burst to an extent. The bubble format of IPL has been breached with yesterday's incident. Brands have to grin and bear it. In reality, nothing is a surprise anymore. Brands have visualised this possibility, and it has been factored into plans for sure.” Vani Gupta Dandia, on the other hand, shared how months of hardwork will go down the drain if IPL is canceled. "After 2020 a lot of pent up demand was expected to manifest in 2021. After a disappointing 2020, advertisers were betting big on IPL. Spots were booked early this year, when there was hope of the COVID pandemic ending in 2021. IPL in particular brings the house together- everyone loves cricket. Annual plans and quarterly targets are constructed around the spurt in demand expected from the advertising spends on IPL. So cancellation at this stage will mean desperate scrambling to rework the media plan, besides losing time." <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Alternative strategy" text="Alternative strategy">Alternative strategy</cmsannotation> Experts we spoke to said whether IPL continues or not, brands should reconsider advertising during what is possibly one of the worst calamities we have faced in recent times. Srinivasan highlighted how ad spend will be a smaller wound but rebuilding reputation might take eons. “The brands continuing to advertise happy, nice things to buy would, at one point, seem utterly insensitive and out of touch. So, in a way, IPL being cancelled is perhaps for the best for these brands, despite the money being invested. After all, reputation is more important than money in the long run, and the brands being presumed to be insensitive and out of touch with the horrendous reality unfolding in our country, is far worse for them,” said Srinivasan. Mathias also said that functional advertising can wait. “It would be wonderful if the IPL uses its reach and financial muscle to amplify and help people. Teams, sponsors, cricket stars can come together and pledge part of their incomes to support this humanitarian disaster. This will also help reduce the valid feeling of the IPL’s tone-deafness, to the misery all around. And yes, for brands the best thing to do in the present circumstance is to help with relief in any way possible – from financial, procuring much needed medical supplies, to using their media assets to amplify SOS and help messages,” said Mathias. *Article updated at 1:15* <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="82294452" title="Experts share the ideal ways in which brands can advertise during the second Covid-19 wave in India" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

As BCCI suspends IPL 2021, experts share how it could impact the ad, marketing and the entertainment world

<ul><li>In wake of players, support staff and team management executives tested positive for Covid-19, BCCI announced the suspension of <keyword id="7866747" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="ipl-2021">IPL 2021</keyword>. </li><li>Considering how big the league has become over the years, every year there is a lot of money riding on IPL.</li><li>We spoke to experts to understand the kind of impact the suspension of the league will have on different stakeholders.</li></ul> The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the current season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in wake of players in different teams testing positive for Covid. While there had been talks of moving the tournament to a different city in the past few days, the new positive cases among the players led to BCCI announcing an indefinite suspension of the league. For a while now, IPL had been the topic of a raging debate - Whether there was a need to hold the tournament this year, at this time, when the country is facing a massive surge in Covid numbers. While there were many who had felt that IPL should not have been held this year, or could have been suspended much earlier than it was, there were others who said something like an IPL was important because it acted as a distraction from the grimness that otherwise surrounds us. In its official statement, IPL stated, “The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff and the other participants involved in organising the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health and wellbeing of all the stakeholders in mind. These are difficult times, especially in India and while we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times. The BCCI will do everything in its powers to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.” In its official statement, <keyword id="17943" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="star-india">Star India</keyword> said, “Star India supports BCCI’s decision to postpone IPL 2021. The health and safety of players, staff and everyone involved in the IPL are of paramount importance. We thank the BCCI, IPL Governing Council, players, franchisees and sponsors for their support. We are also indebted to our employees, on-air talent, production, and broadcast crews for trying their best to spread positivity by delivering the broadcast of IPL 2021 to millions of homes in the face of challenging circumstances.” However, the next big question everyone is pondering over is, how will IPL’s suspension impact different stakeholders considering there are massive investments involved in the league every year. This year, Star India had on-boarded 18 sponsors and over 100 advertisers across multiple brand categories including Edtech, Fantasy Sports, Beverages, Pay Wallets, Home Décor, Auto, Telecom, Consumer Durables, FMCG and Financial Services. For most brands, the IPL becomes that one property that garners impressive eyeballs. The leagues has helped a lot of brands build awareness and reach out to an engaged set of audience over the years. However, this year, perhaps due to the ongoing <keyword id="9323110" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Covid-surge">Covid surge</keyword>, IPL’s viewership witnessed a dip when compared to last year’s numbers, according to data from Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India. <div type="image" title="IPL 2021 viewership" msid="82390462" hostid="261"></div> Last year, BCCI had earned Rs 4,000 crore in revenue from hosting IPL, in addition to a 25% rise in TV viewership, according to BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal. The different franchisees make money through title sponsorships, media rights, merchandising, ticket sales and the prize money. When it comes to the broadcaster, Star Sports and Hotstar was expected to rake in advertising revenues of around Rs 3,600-3,800 crore, a substantial jump from last year’s estimated revenue of Rs 2,600 crore. While it might still be very early to understand the implications of the suspension, industry experts believe advertisers will approach Star Sports Network to rework the advertising deals. Many advertisers had to pay close to a 20% premium for ad slots this year and it is expected they would demand for extra airtime, to make up. What the exact implications are, and how different stakeholders work around the suspension, only time will tell. To understand what the industry felt about the league’s suspension, we reached out to experts from the industry, and here is what they had to say: <keyword id="248051" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashish-Bhasin">Ashish Bhasin</keyword>, CEO APAC and Chairman India, dentsu supported the decision to postpone the IPL for now. “Given the prevailing pandemic situation, I think it is the right decision to postpone IPL for now. The health and safety of all the players and everyone involved I think is paramount and keeping in mind the situation in the country and the prevailing mood in the nation, in my view it is the right decision. IPL is the single largest property on television in India and something that appeals to a wide target audience, across the geographies. It has unparalleled reach and has always proven to be an excellent vehicle for brands and I think that will continue to be so and that will not change. Given the fact that several parts of the country are going into lockdown, there are emergency measures been taken in different cities and towns to curb the pandemic, the severe shortages and difficulties being experienced, lives being lost to the pandemic, I think it is more appropriate to focus on that then on commercial issues for now. I’m sure the commercial issues will get discussed and resolved in an appropriate manner.” While she said that the suspension will amount to substantial business impact for a lot of the stakeholders, <keyword id="3123098" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Neena-Dasgupta">Neena Dasgupta</keyword>, CEO and Director, Zirca Digital Solutions also stated that she would not be in favor of it resuming at a later date. “There is definitely going to be a substantial business impact on all associated with the annual spectacle. It's not just Star and BCCI that would be losing revenue but other people as well whose revenue is linked to IPL. Media agencies, digital agencies who were riding big on IPL would now have to look for ways to compensate for the lost revenue opportunity. While it is being said that the tournament would resume during better times, no one should place their bets on it. As a business I would not be in favour of the decision, but looking at the current scenario, saving human lives is top most priority. I would like to say to all my fellow colleagues across the industry, “Hang on and stay safe, this too shall pass,” she said. Pointing at how the first-time advertisers would perhaps be the least daunted by the development, <keyword id="1505615" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ashish-Khazanchi">Ashish Khazanchi</keyword>, Managing Partner, Enormous Brands said, “Suspension of IPL will certainly have near-term adverse impact - both in terms of business objectives of advertisers and even more importantly on the market sentiment. Heavy investments may be held back because there's going to be unpredictability on how the returns on investments may turn out to be. The first-time advertisers however are probably going to be the least daunted going by my extensive work with them. For a few important reasons. One, their businesses are heavily digital-enabled. That part of the world will roughly continue unfazed and may actually gain shares at the expense of the traditional business models. Two, they have a much higher risk appetite than traditional business. The older businesses are usually in a consolidate mode, while all start ups are in an aggressive growth and acquisition mode. They may actually take advantage of lesser media saturation to build share of voice. The cancellation is somewhat likely to cast a little shadow of uncertainty even on the World Cup. But only the next few months will tell us the way for sure." Chetan Asher, Founder &amp; CEO - Tonic Worldwide said, "IPL is a major vehicle for visibility for startups in India and brands associated with the event can become a household name, from a marketing perspective. While the suspension derails the opportunity for them, given the current context that's unavoidable and a step in the right direction. However, they can channelise their investments and energy in trying to make a difference by partnering with NGO’s providing relief during Covid-19." Earlier this year, a report from Duff &amp; Phelps had revealed that the value of the IPL ecosystem witnessed a 3.6% dip in 2020. So how will the suspension this year further impact its value? Varun Gupta, Managing Director and Head Valuation Advisory- APAC, Duff &amp; Phelps, A Kroll Business said, “If the tournament had merely been suspended and restarted within a week or two, it might not have much of a difference to the revenues of the IPL or that of the franchisees. However, it appears that that the tournament is postponed indefinitely, which would have the following impact – Firstly, IPL would suffer significant revenue losses for the current season. There will be loss of sponsorship and broadcasting revenues for BCCI. The league was already coping with loss of revenues from ticket sales and in-stadia F&amp;B, besides the loss of revenue last year due to <keyword id="215177" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Vivo">VIVO</keyword> pulling out for the 2020 season. Secondly, the teams will also suffer revenue losses on account of reduced revenue from the central pool and loss of team sponsorship revenues. Having said that, one must also acknowledge that while it was ongoing over the last few weeks, the IPL provided 3-4 hours of much needed diversion and relief to the Indian masses who are reeling under a barrage of bad news on the Covid front. IPL’s ability to pull TV audiences continues unabated. Secondly, the value of any enterprise is based on its future cash earning capacity. To our mind, while there will be some revenue loss this year, the future revenue generation ability of the IPL is undiminished.” Sanjay Mehta, Joint CEO of Mirum India said that while the move will have an impact on brands, it also gives them time to rethink their communication strategies. “The suspension of the IPL, then, is going to hurt all those brands. Many (such as CRED, for example) would have invested significant sums in new creatives. Others would have planned campaign schedules and connected the same to product demand forecasts and inventory placement in stores. These plans will all get impacted, as finding alternate spots to run that kind of ad inventory will not be easy. On the other hand, many businesses and their customers are themselves impacted due to the second wave of Covid and might see this as a sigh of relief in a way, as they might save money for ad inventory that is not run. Also, at a time when the mood of a large number of citizens is very low, having "in-your-face" advertising urging you to purchase something as if life was normal, was a little jarring too. Maybe this break gives them time to rethink their creative strategies, for communication in the midst of the Covid challenges,” he said. Ambika Sharma, Founder &amp; MD, Pulp Strategy added, “The battle with Covid-19 which started a year ago has disrupted the operations across the globe. In India, with its huge populace it has become a daunting task to overcome despite safety and Covid-19 protocols. The IPL which is an extremely popular event that everyone looks forward to, should not have been allowed as the charm and excitement of watching and engaging on the ground cannot be matched with watching it at home without your friends and dear ones and right now you see only devastation in either your neighbourhood, family or anywhere. The high stakes of IPL should have been looked into, especially when we see players falling to Covid infections. The infection can have multiple manifestations on the health of the players which can lead to serious lifelong illness. While we stare at huge losses, be it for the Sponsors, Broadcasters and BCCI, the environment is least conducive to host these matches. A mutually agreeable formula by key stakeholders can be adopted transparently to arrive at a decision, especially when the medical experts are warning us about the Covid peak.” Speaking about the impact of the move on brands as well as agencies that have worked on campaigns for their clients, Shradha Agarwal, COO and Strategy Head- Grapes Digital said, "This is definitely going to affect the marketers. There are creative works, campaigns that are yet to be launched as brands were waiting for the IPL to enter its second phase. In May many brands would have come out with ads and campaigns because the IPL advertising inventory is sold through long term contracts that are signed before the tournament begins. This will also impact digital agencies that are ready to launch their campaigns with influencers based on IPL. There are few possibilities, firstly, the IPL is suspended and not dropped hence, advertisers will wait for the league to resume or some clients would cease the campaign and work on Plan B because the budget was allocated for a specific period, and if the quarter changes they will back out. Small advertisers might take the route of moving to regular inventory instead of investing for the remainder of the season in one go." What route the broadcaster takes in the next few days to rejig its advertising deals with brands and sponsors is something we will need to wait and watch.

You Searched For "ipl important players" and got 13 results

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