MAM
i-mint appoints three new marketing agencies
MUMBAI: Coalition loyalty programme, i-mint Loyalty Solutions and Research, has signed three new marketing and advertising agencies to assist the company in brand development, marketing strategies, promotional planning and execution of marketing campaigns.
The Mudra Group has been appointed to drive i-mint‘s ATL (above the line) advertisements, while Rediffusion-Wunderman has been appointed for i-mint‘s BTL (below the line) advertisement push and will provide total integrated marketing solutions in India and Asia Pacific regions.
Dentsu has been appointed as i-mint‘s media agency.
These agencies will together develop creative solutions for i-mint by leveraging the full spectrum of their marketing and advertising capabilities.
i-mint MD and CEO Vijay Bobba says, “We are very excited to be working with Mudra, Wunderman and Dentsu. This association represents a positive step for the company towards increasing its brand awareness amongst its audience. Their leadership in specific domains will be a tremendous asset to us to engage our customers better.”
MAM
Star Sports under fire for ‘cringe’ India–SA Super 8 promo
Broadcaster accused of arrogance and disrespect as fans slam Super 8 promotion
AHMEDABAD: Star Sports is facing a wave of criticism after its latest promotional campaign for the India–South Africa T20 World Cup Super 8 match triggered a fierce social media backlash, quickly dubbed “Cupcakegate”.
The advertisement, released this week, hinges on a cupcake metaphor that many viewers have condemned as patronising and disrespectful. In the clip, an Indian supporter mockingly offers a pink cupcake to a South African fan, a visual jibe widely interpreted as portraying the Proteas as a soft, easily beaten opponent.
The backlash has been swift across platforms such as X and Reddit, with fans and commentators accusing the broadcaster of tone-deaf bravado at a crucial stage of the tournament. The criticism is sharpened by the context: both India and South Africa arrive in the Super 8s unbeaten, undermining any suggestion of a one-sided contest.
Online, the cupcake symbol has been read as carrying multiple barbs. Some users argue it alludes to South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s domestic nickname, while others see it as recycling the long-running “chokers” trope associated with South Africa in ICC tournaments. The casting choice has also drawn scrutiny, with viewers noting the physical disparity between the actors playing the two fans, which critics described as a cheap attempt to belittle the opposition.
Even Indian supporters have joined the pile-on. Many warned that such chest-thumping marketing risks “jinxing” the team, pointing to past tournaments where aggressive campaigns preceded unexpected defeats.
Star Sports is no stranger to rivalry-led advertising, having struck gold with its earlier “Mauka Mauka” series. But analysts say the cupcake campaign misreads a fanbase that has grown less tolerant of overtly mocking narratives and more attuned to sporting parity and respect.
India and South Africa meet on Sunday, 22 February, at the 132,000-seat Narendra Modi Stadium. With South Africa securing their Super 8 berth through a commanding win over the UAE, the fixture is widely billed as a heavyweight clash, not the walkover the ad appears to suggest.
