Sports
Sony Sports bowls out Rising Stars in four languages
Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 airs 13 to 22 February.
MUMBAI: The future of Asian cricket is about to take guard, and it is coming with fresh flair, fearless strokes and a four-language commentary box. Sony Sports Network, part of Sony Pictures Networks India, is set to broadcast the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 from 13 to 22 February, putting the spotlight firmly on the next generation of women’s cricket in the region.
For the first time, Indian viewers will be able to follow the tournament in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The multi-language feeds will be available for all matches scheduled on 13 February, 15 February, 17 February, as well as the semi-finals and the final, widening the net for fans across the country.
One fixture already circled in red is the India vs Pakistan clash on 15 February, a rivalry that rarely needs introduction. Even in a Rising Stars format, that contest promises intensity well beyond its age bracket.
Leading the Indian charge will be Radha Yadav, captaining India A and bringing with her the calm authority of a seasoned campaigner. A consistent performer in the Women’s Premier League, Yadav’s all-round credentials and leadership experience will anchor a youthful side eager to make its mark.
The squad also includes debutant Anushka Sharma, a batting all-rounder who has impressed in domestic cricket and recent WPL outings, earning her maiden national call-up. Strengthening the middle order is Humairaa Kaazi, known for her match awareness and ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
Vrinda Dinesh adds solidity to the batting unit, her domestic performances reflecting technique and temperament in equal measure. Minnu Mani, another all-rounder on the rise, arrives with a growing reputation in the T20 format, valued for her ability to influence the game across disciplines.
Beyond India, the tournament will feature Esha Oza leading the UAE, Anushka Sanjeewani at the helm of Sri Lanka A, Fahima Khatun captaining Bangladesh A, Natthakan Chantham representing Thailand and Rubina Chettri carrying Nepal’s hopes. The line-up underscores the tournament’s broader ambition: to give emerging talent from across Asia a stage big enough to match their dreams.
The Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 will be broadcast live and exclusive across Sony Sports Network channels and streamed on Sony Liv, ensuring that from 13 to 22 February, the continent’s brightest prospects are just a click or a remote away.
For fans, it is not merely another tournament. It is a glimpse of tomorrow’s headlines, written today.
Sports
Sun TV sues Chennai Super Kings over use of Jailer, Coolie music in IPL promo
Network seeks Rs 1 crore in damages as Madras High Court directs CSK to confirm songs removed from jersey launch video
CHENNAI: A legal battle has erupted even before the first ball of IPL 2026 is bowled. Sun TV Network has moved the Madras High Court accusing Chennai Super Kings of copyright infringement over the alleged use of music, background scores and dialogues from the Rajinikanth films Jailer, Jailer-2 and Coolie in a promotional video for the franchise’s new jersey.
The commercial suit, filed by Sun TV Network Limited against Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited and three of its officials, claims the IPL franchise used copyrighted audio content without obtaining a licence from the rights holder.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy heard preliminary submissions in the matter before adjourning the case to March 16. The court also directed CSK to file an affidavit confirming its statement that the songs in question are no longer being used in the team’s promotional material.
The suit names CSK chief executive and managing director Kasi Viswanathan, head of finance Avinash Sridharan and head of content Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan as defendants alongside the franchise company.
According to Sun TV, CSK released a promotional video on March 1 to unveil its IPL 2026 jersey across social media platforms including Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. The video allegedly incorporated audio tracks, background scores and dialogues from Jailer, its upcoming sequel Jailer-2 and Coolie — all Rajinikanth projects produced by Sun Pictures, the film production arm of Sun TV Network.
Jailer, released in 2023, emerged as one of the biggest Tamil box-office hits of the year. Its soundtrack by Anirudh Ravichander, particularly the viral track Hukum, became a staple across social media and stadium events. Sun TV told the court that Anirudh Ravichander had been engaged under agreements that vest all rights in the films’ music with the producer, making Sun TV the exclusive copyright holder authorised to license the music.
The network alleged that the content was used at several points in the video, including scenes depicting the arrival of CSK captain MS Dhoni at the team camp, to amplify the promotional appeal of the campaign. It argued that the video was designed to promote the team’s merchandise, including its IPL 2026 jersey sold online at around Rs 2,399, thereby generating commercial gain from copyrighted material.
Sun TV has sought a permanent injunction restraining CSK from using any songs, dialogues or background scores from its films across platforms including social media, stadium broadcasts and promotional campaigns. It has also demanded Rs 1 crore in damages and asked the court to direct the franchise to disclose revenues generated from the promotional campaign that allegedly used the copyrighted music.
Senior counsel J Ravindran, appearing for Sun TV, told the court that CSK had stopped using the songs after receiving an e-mail objecting to their use. Ravindran nevertheless urged the court to ensure that the franchise does not repeat the alleged infringement.
Senior counsel PS Raman, representing CSK, informed the court that the tracks from Jailer, Jailer-2 and Coolie had already been removed from the promotional video. Raman also assured the court that the franchise would obtain proper licences if it uses such material in the future.
With the IPL season approaching and the dispute now in court, the clash has added an unexpected off-field contest to cricket’s biggest league — one that will be fought not with bats and balls, but with copyrights and court orders.
