MAM
Sprite unveils ‘Thand Rakh’ brand films during ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
Mumbai: Sprite, the lemon and lime-flavored beverage from the Coca-Cola Company encourages cricket fans to keep their cool during intense moments of matches through a series of brand films on ‘Thand Rakh.’ With the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the natural impulse to become caught up in the intensity of the game’s heated moments is inevitable. However, Sprite comes to the rescue as the ultimate refreshment to help fans stay cool and composed when the pressure is high.
In a series of captivating TV commercials, a group of friends are shown engrossed in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. While one of them is fixing the house premises, others are glued to the TV without wanting to miss a single ball. As the match’s intensity rises, chaos ensues in the household at the same time. It’s during this pivotal moment that one of them extends an offer of Sprite to the group.
In another exciting and forward-thinking move, Sprite is embracing innovation and encouraging ‘Thand Rakh’ by launching the shoppable Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising campaign during the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match on 14 October. As the game’s intensity surges, a rise in temperature is seen on the digital billboard representing Ahmedabad city and Narendra Modi Stadium. The temperature on OOH will change on a real-time basis the excitement levels of the match. In this unique and first-of-its-kind innovation, the intensity of excitement within the stadium is directly tied to the decibel levels, leading to the dynamic adjustment of the temperature displayed on the board.
Coca-Cola India senior category director Sparkling Flavors (India and Southwest Asia) Tish Condeno expressed her enthusiasm for the campaign, senior category director Sparkling Flavors (India and Southwest Asia) Tish Condeno, saying, “The new ‘Thand Rakh’ campaign revolves around embracing the unforgettable intensity that defines sports. Sprite, truly takes ownership of these heated moments, offering a refreshing solution during ICC Men’s Cricket World cup. We are thrilled to provide a cool respite for those impulsive, high-pressure moments that define the essence of the tournament.”
Ogilvy India CCO Sukesh Nayak said, “Sprite is established itself as the go-to brand when life throws situations at you that end up causing heat. The cricket world cup is one such situation. The campaign shows cricket through the lens of life in an interesting way that ends in a comedy of errors. It’s quick, snackable content that drives home the point of when heat strikes, Sprite comes to the rescue.”
Ogilvy India (North) CCO Ritu Sharda said, “The cricket World Cup is the biggest clash of the best teams from around the world. Obviously there will be intense moments and things will heat up. The films show how heated moments from a match get transferred to real life. We took words from the world of cricket and gave it a spin with real life situations where the meaning of the word is completely different. Resulting in heat. Making it the perfect ground for Sprite to come in as the official cooler of heat and to tell people to enjoy the world cup in full, minus the heat.”
The TVCs will go live during matches on Hotstar and Star Sports.
Link to the TVCs:
MAM
Ad:tech honours 2026: Full list of winners announced
Expanded awards spotlight winners across 22 categories as industry doubles down on intelligent automation
NEW DELHI: Marketing’s tech elite took the spotlight as the ad:tech honours 2026 returned with a sharper focus on AI, data and immersive media, signalling how deeply technology now underpins brand strategy. Held at Yashobhoomi on March 17, the second edition drew industry leaders to celebrate innovation that is reshaping engagement and performance.
Presented with the International Advertising Association India chapter and new partner Huella, the awards expanded from 8 to 22 categories, tracking the rapid convergence of creativity, automation and analytics.
The winners’ list reads like a snapshot of marketing’s future. In affiliate and partner marketing, Lyxel & Flamingo – Boat and Paytm Ads – Giva took silver. Mobavenue Media Private Limited struck gold in AI-driven dynamic creative optimisation, alongside a silver for Laqshya Media Limited.
Creative AI collaboration saw Rediffusion Brand Solutions Private Limited win gold, with Saltinc Consulting Private Limited securing silver. Laqshya Media Limited continued its strong run, taking gold in AI conversation agents and adding multiple wins across categories, including silver in GenAI-led creative and both gold and silver in interactive DOOH campaigns for Tanishq and Tata Coffee.
Predictive AI honours went to Strong Metrics and Tyroo, both silver, while Orient Bell Limited picked up silver in immersive retail tech. In GenAI-led creative, Laqshya Media Limited, Salt – Kotak and Sumimoto each secured silver, reflecting the crowded race in generative creativity.
Publicis bagged silver in influencer management and gold in performance marketing, where it shared the stage with Arm Worldwide and The Trade Desk, both silver. Glad U Came Private Limited stood out with gold in influencer measurement and analytics.
Marketing automation saw CereOne Media Pvt. Ltd. and Globale Media win silver, while ADMOTT Private Limited claimed silver in OTT innovation.
Programmatic media categories highlighted the shift to advanced targeting and connected screens. Mobavenue Media Private Limited clinched gold in connected TV advertising, with Animmoov Digital Media Pvt Ltd – Asus and Lyxel and Flamingo taking silver. Cheggout Services Private Limited won silver in retail media advertising, while Paytm Ads – Versuni secured gold.
On social platforms, Vayner Media India took gold in community and UGC engagement, with Under 25 – Oppo winning silver. Segumento rounded off the list with silver in the innovation category.
Jaswant Singh, country managing director at ad:tech India, underscored the momentum, saying generative AI and data-driven decision-making are now central to marketing impact. Neena Dasgupta, IAA mancom member and chief executive and founder at The Salt Inc Consulting, added that the awards celebrate not just technology, but “the people, the creativity, and the relentless effort behind it.”
Backed by Comexposium Group, ad:tech New Delhi has long tracked digital disruption. Now, with the honours, it is rewarding those who are not just adapting to change but engineering it.
In an industry racing towards automation, the message from 2026 is unmistakable. The future of marketing will be written not just in ideas, but in algorithms.
