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JioStar announces biggest ever talent line-up for an ICC event
Mumbai: JioStar is loading the commentary box with star power for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, unveiling what it calls its biggest ever expert line-up for an ICC event as India and Sri Lanka gear up to host the tournament.
The broadcaster has assembled a panel of 100-plus experts and presenters to complement the ICCTV world feed, promising wall-to-wall coverage across nine languages: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Bangla, and for the first time at an ICC World Cup, Bhojpuri and Haryanvi.
The headline grabber is Yuzvendra Chahal, the 2024 T20 World Cup champion, who makes a World Cup comeback of sorts in a new role, stepping into commentary with JioStar. He is joined by a cluster of India’s 2007 T20 World Cup winners including Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa and Piyush Chawla.
Suresh Raina, India’s first centurion in a men’s T20 World Cup, also features, alongside former India head coach Anil Kumble, former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar and former batting coach Sanjay Bangar.
The international bench is just as heavy. Insights and anecdotes will come from 2014 champions Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews, 2016 winners Carlos Brathwaite and Samuel Badree, and current South Africa Test and ODI captain Temba Bavuma. Former World Cup-winning leaders and greats such as Eoin Morgan, Matthew Hayden, Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar are also in the mix.
The familiar voices of Harsha Bhogle, Nasser Hussain, Ian Bishop, Ian Smith, Michael Atherton, Shaun Pollock, Dale Steyn and Simon Doull round out a cast designed to appeal to both purists and casual fans.
JioStar is pairing star names with product tweaks. On JioHotstar, viewers get MaxView in English and Hindi on mobile, Indian Sign Language feeds for all India matches and knockouts, and five multi-cam options: hero cam, stump cam, batter cam, field view and multi view.
Siddharth Sharma, head of sports content at JioStar, framed the event as both a cricketing and broadcasting spectacle. “As Team India mounts its greatest effort to defeat history, the fact that no team has ever defended the T20 World Cup title, our endeavour is to put together a spectacle that would match the occasion,” Sharma said.
“JioStar’s broadcast of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is designed to captivate core fans as well as thrill casual viewers, with former ICC World Cup winners in commentary, along with a host of interactive features and bespoke camera angles on JioHotstar. As Team India attempts to become the first ever nation to lift the trophy thrice, JioStar will continue to give viewers the ultimate broadcast experience,” Sharma added.
India open their campaign against the United States in Mumbai on February 7th, then face Namibia on February 12th, Pakistan on February 15th and the Netherlands on February 18th. The tournament runs from February 7th to March 8th, with matches live on JioHotstar and the Star Sports network.
Cricket’s shortest format thrives on speed, noise and spectacle. JioStar is betting that a crowded commentary box and a screen full of options will keep viewers from looking away. In a tournament built on big hits, the broadcaster is swinging just as hard.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
