Sports
Adani Group targets Formula 1 return to Greater Noida Circuit
Billionaire revs his engines to put India back on the racing map
NEW DELHI: The Adani Group is shifting into top gear with a bold plan to bring Formula 1 back to the Buddh International Circuit (BIC). Having recently crossed the finish line on a massive deal to acquire the embattled Jaiprakash Associates, the conglomerate now finds itself in the driver’s seat of India’s only world-class racing facility.
Leading the charge is Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Cement and Adani Ports. For him, the circuit isn’t just a leftover asset from a corporate takeover; it is a golden opportunity to prove that India can compete on the global stage.
“I’m very excited,” Karan Adani noted during a recent briefing. “Obviously the Buddh circuit comes as part of the deal. I’m very personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back into India. I think India has a lot of potential.”
The vision is simple: why should Indian fans fly to Singapore or Abu Dhabi to smell the burning rubber when they could do it in their own backyard?
In the past, India’s F1 dreams hit a proverbial brick wall of bureaucracy. A long-standing row over whether racing was a sport or entertainment led to a tax headache that saw the engines fall silent after 2013. However, the government finally seems ready to wave the green flag.
Adani’s interest in the project is fuelled by a massive Rs 14,535-crore resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates (Jal), which received the green light from lenders in late 2025. By taking the wheel at Jal, the Adani Group gains full control of the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, effectively clearing away the private-sector financial hurdles that had previously stalled the track’s maintenance and upkeep.
Despite the hiatus, the venue remains a heavyweight in the racing world; it still holds the prestigious FIA Grade 1 certification, the highest global standard required to host Formula 1. Having successfully hosted three Grands Prix between 2011 and 2013, the circuit proved it still has plenty of life in it by recently welcoming the MotoGP Bharat in 2023.
While the tarmac at Greater Noida is still in excellent shape, getting back on the official F1 calendar is no Sunday drive. With record demand for race slots globally, Adani will need to convince the powers that be in London and Monaco that India is ready for a second lap.
If successful, the move could transform the Yamuna Expressway into a high-speed hub of tourism and prestige, turning a dormant concrete giant back into a cathedral of speed.
Sports
How brands reacted to India’s thrilling T20 semi-final victory
Brands cash in on chaos as fans, memes & celebs fuel post-match buzz after India’s 7-run thriller.
MUMBAI: The boundaries weren’t the only thing being smashed at Wankhede, the internet itself hit a social-media six (or seven, Thala style) as brands raced to capitalise on the high-octane drama of India’s 253/7 followed by England’s 246/7 thriller.
Sanju Samson’s explosive 89 off 42 balls became instant brand catnip. Star Sports fired off reels syncing his towering sixes to pounding beats, captioning one viral clip, “Samson’s Sunday became India’s Super Sunday” racking up millions of views in hours. Fantasy platform Dream11 leaned hard into the jackpot vibe with live leaderboards screaming “Samson scored 89… how many points did YOU score?” and player cards that flooded every feed.
Jasprit Bumrah’s death-over wizardry inspired sharp, quick-witted hits too. A major sports broadcaster dropped a graphic of his final-over yorkers with the cheeky line “When Bumrah bowls, even death gets nervous” pure engagement bait that exploded in shares. Hardik Pandya’s ice-cool 2/38 in the crunch overs got similar love: quick-commerce brands jumped in with punny creatives like “We deliver sixes faster than England chased, congrats India!” linked to flash discounts for “semi-final survivors”.
Axar Patel’s boundary-line stunner (fans dubbing him “Bapu the Boundary Boss”) sparked sticker storms, while Jacob Bethell’s valiant 105 off 48 earned classy, respectful nods even Indian brands posted “What a fight from Bethell!” graphics to show good sportsmanship pays off in likes.
Abhishek Sharma’s early exit? The meme tsunami of “off-spinner wali bimari” jokes kept rolling, with brands wisely steering clear but riding the wave through fan-reaction compilations. The seven-run margin triggered endless “Thala for a reason” graphics invoking MS Dhoni’s No. 7 legacy, amplified by his and Sakshi’s adorable premature-celebration clip (her jump, his grin) that melted timelines.
Brands went all-in with victory posts straight from their official handles:
India Post celebrated the qualification with a clever tie-in: “Team India secured the final You secure your family’s future with Postal Life Insurance! Howzzat for a winning partnership!! #IndvsEngland #Semifinal #TeamIndia”
- KEI Industries cheered: “Congratulations Team India for reaching the T20 World Cup Final! One step away from the trophy. #t20worldcup2026 #teamindia #semifinal #INDvsENG”
- Polycab India posted triumphantly: “That’s how it’s done! Congratulations Team India for powering through the semi-finals.” (complete with a branded graphic nodding to their “India’s Safe Happy Connection” tagline).
- Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) shared: “Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) congratulates Team India for a spectacular victory in the semi-final. Your outstanding performance, determination, and exceptional team spirit have made the entire nation proud. Wishing Team India the very best for the final.”
Budweiser India joined the celebratory chorus with a crisp line that echoed the mood of the night: “Another match. Another reason to celebrate.”
Marketing pages and aggregators like Moves Of Marketing compiled collages of these topical creatives under #MomentMarketing, while others highlighted how brands turned the thriller into instant campaigns from fantasy hype and discount drops to respectful shout-outs.
Celebrities turned up the glamour dial even higher. Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and little Raha’s wholesome cheering videos went mega-viral, with Raha’s innocent claps stealing hearts. Dhoni and Rohit Sharma spotted in the Ambani box added extra star power. Hindi movie heavyweights flooded feeds, Ajay Devgn posted “Loved every minute of this match! #TeamIndia played like absolute champs. On to the finals now.” Kareena Kapoor Khan reposted the team’s final-qualifying graphic with hearts, smiles and rainbows. Anil Kapoor shared “Proud of our boys”, Sonu Sood wrote “Mera Bharat Mahan, 1.4 Billion hearts celebrating this win… Ab bas cup ghar aane wala hai #TeamIndia”, Anupam Kher declared “Ye mera Indiaaaaaaa! Bharat Mata Ki Jai! Jai Hind!”, Suniel Shetty and Raveena Tandon joined the celebration chorus, and even actor Shailesh Lodha chimed in praising Sanju Samson’s “excellent innings”.
One sharp sponsor summed it up neatly: “SEMI FINAL FINAL LOADING…” with a clean graphic celebrating the dream run.
With the final against New Zealand on March 8 in Ahmedabad looming, expect the brand parade and the memes to keep smashing records. Cricket fever? More like marketing mayhem. Pass the chai, the show’s far from over.
