Sports
JioHotstar hits record 821 million concurrent views as India crushed New Zealand
A record-breaking night for JioHotstar as the Men in Blue clinch a third crown
AHMEDABAD: It turns out that there is indeed something more crowded than a Mumbai local at rush hour: the JioHotstar servers during a World Cup final. On Sunday night, as India dismantled New Zealand to secure their third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup title, the digital world didn’t just watch; it collectively held its breath.
The newly minted streaming giant recorded a staggering 82.1 crore (821 million) concurrent views. To put that in perspective, that is roughly ten times the population of Germany tuning in to watch twenty-two men chase a leather ball under the Saharan heat of the Ahmedabad floodlights.
The match itself was less of a contest and more of a coronation. Abhishek Sharma provided the initial spark, but it was Sanju Samson who truly brought the house down with a bruising 89. By the time India reached 255, the Kiwis looked like they were trying to stop a landslide with a toothpick.
When it was time to bowl, Jasprit Bumrah reminded the world why he is essentially a cheat code in human form. His 4 for 15 ensured the New Zealand chase never really left the runway, eventually folding for 159.
While the players were hitting sixes, the marketing departments were hitting gold mines. With nearly a billion sets of eyes glued to the screen, the cost per second for a slot on JioHotstar reportedly reached levels usually reserved for private islands and small spacecraft.
Brands moved away from traditional storytelling, opting for “blink and you miss it” micro-ads designed to capture the frantic attention of a mobile-first audience. Advertisers reportedly shelled out upwards of Rs 50 lakh for a mere 10-second spot, with some premium 20-second slots fetching a cool Rs 1 crore. From rapid-delivery grocery apps promising snacks in under 10 minutes (ideally before the next over) to car manufacturers launching models via on-pitch QR codes that saw over 5 million scans in a single hour, the boundary between sport and shopping has never been thinner. By the final wicket, JioStar was projected to have raked in over Rs 2,000 crore in ad revenue from this single tournament.
The real winner, aside from Suryakumar Yadav’s men, was the infrastructure. In a country where the internet can sometimes be as temperamental as a sticky wicket, the platform stayed upright under the weight of 821 million people.
It was a night where the Buffering wheel was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by the sight of blue shirts hoisting silverware. India is champions again, and the world of broadcasting has a new, incredibly high bar to clear.
Sports
CP Plus named title sponsor of Punjab Kings for IPL 2026
New jersey unveiled in Mohali symbolising performance and innovation.
MUMBAI: CP Plus just powered up Punjab Kings because when your sponsor’s name is on the jersey, even the boundaries start feeling more secure. CP Plus has been announced as the title sponsor of Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2026, with the partnership unveiled through the launch of the team’s new jersey in Mohali on Friday. The collaboration blends the high-energy spirit of cricket with CP Plus’s focus on precision, reliability and technology-driven innovation.
The jersey serves as a visual symbol of the alliance, reflecting shared values of performance, trust and future-readiness. The association aims to leverage the IPL’s massive platform for deeper consumer engagement, brand salience and regional resonance, particularly in cricket-passionate markets like Punjab.
CP Plus managing director Aditya Khemka said, “This marks the beginning of a meaningful journey for CP Plus. The unveiling of the Punjab Kings jersey is symbolic of a deeper alignment, one that is built on shared ambition, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence.”
Punjab Kings CEO Satish Menon added, “We would like to welcome CP Plus into the Punjab Kings family. It’s our pleasure to be associated with a brand that, like us, values excellence and keeps the consumer at the focus.”
Punjab Kings CCO Saurabh Arora noted, “CP Plus is a brand that people trust and encounter every day, which makes this partnership a seamless integration. Our goal is to build something across the season that delivers genuine consumer impact.”
As Punjab Kings prepare for IPL 2026, the partnership lays the foundation for immersive fan experiences, integrated storytelling and technology-led activations that connect sport, innovation and brand purpose both on and off the field.
In a league where every sponsor wants to stand out, CP Plus isn’t just buying space on a jersey, it’s buying into the heartbeat of a team, proving that when technology meets cricket’s passion, the real winner is the fan who feels the thrill up close.
