MAM
Cricket to face-off with football in Pepsi’s new ad campaign
MUMBAI: Indian cricketers will face-off with international football stars in Pepsi’s new campaign film as it takes the Twenty20 Football theme forward as part of its ‘Change the Game’ campaign.
Pepsi ‘s campaign will feature Indian cricketing heroes Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina and Harbhajan Singh; along with the biggest global football stars, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Fernando Torres.
In the campaign film, cricketers throw a challenge at footballers to a game of cricket to win Pepsi, while the footballers show them how to play cricket – football style. The film captures the essence of ‘Change the Game’ with a foot tapping soundtrack, ‘Mauke Pe Chauka’.
PepsiCo India Category Director – Colas, Hydration & Mango Based Beverages Homi Battiwalla said, “We celebrated the unorthodox face of cricket last year and gave the T20 twist to football this year; now we are bringing together both these sports on one common platform. Featuring the biggest names from the world of cricket and football, the campaign reflects our commitment to both the sports in our signature, ‘Change the Game’ way.”
The campaign is supported by a 360-degree approach including on-air, outdoor & on-ground initiatives; special edition packaging featuring and digital engagement programmes. The cola major is one of the broadcast sponsors of Max for the on-going IPL season.
“With this latest Pepsi campaign, we are bringing the cricketers and footballers together for the very first time in the history of Indian advertising. It is a truly clutter breaking campaign, mounted on a mega scale. The idea is simple with the ‘Change the Game’ thought at its core,” added JWT India ECD Surjo Dutt.
Pepsi recently launched its first football campaign in the country featuring actor Ranbir Kapoor, which was followed by a grassroots initiative, Pepsi T20 Football that takes football outside the conventional domain.
Organised in a unique metallic cage, the initiative is being organised in major Indian cities including Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Lucknow, Ludhiana and Delhi, with phenomenal response. A total of 8-teams, including one winning team from each city and one wild card entry will compete to emerge as ‘Game Changers’.
They will then get the opportunity to be coached by an international football star before they face the Indian cricket stars for a game of Pepsi T20 Football at the Grand Finale.
Brands
Maharashtra panel orders Lodha to refund Rs 5 crore to homebuyers
Consumer court flags unfair practices in long-running property dispute case
MUMBAI: In a sharp rebuke to one of India’s biggest real estate players, the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed Macrotech Developers to refund nearly Rs 5 crore to a senior citizen couple, Uttam and Anindita Chatterjee. The ruling, delivered on March 13, 2026, calls out the developer for “deficiency in service” and “unfair trade practices”, bringing closure to a dispute that has stretched over a decade.
The case traces back to 2015, when the couple booked a 3-BHK flat at World Towers in Lower Parel for Rs 12.22 crore, with possession promised within a year. What followed was a series of changes that complicated matters. After deciding to exit the project, they were persuaded to shift to a 4-BHK in another development priced at Rs 8 crore, with delivery scheduled for 2018. However, within months, the price was allegedly increased to Rs 10 crore. After demonetisation reshaped the market, similar flats were reportedly being offered at lower prices, but the couple were not given the benefit.
Despite paying over Rs 2.83 crore, the couple neither received possession nor clarity. Instead, in 2018, the developer unilaterally cancelled the booking, retained part of the amount as earnest money, and argued that the buyers were investors rather than consumers. The commission rejected this claim, observing that casual references to “investment” do not take away consumer rights when the purchase intent is residential.
The bench also held that the developer could not penalise buyers for payment delays while failing to meet its own delivery commitments. It noted the lack of formal documentation for revised terms and termed the prolonged retention of funds without delivering a home as exploitative.
As part of its order, the commission directed the developer to refund Rs 2.83 crore paid by the couple, along with interest at 10 per cent per annum, amounting to around Rs 2.12 crore. In addition, Rs 1 lakh has been awarded for mental agony and Rs 50,000 towards litigation costs, taking the total payout to over Rs 5 crore. The developer has been asked to comply within two months.
For now, the ruling serves as a reminder that in real estate, shifting terms and delayed promises can carry a significant cost.
