Brands
T. Natarajan joins forces with Sharief Bhai as the brand ambassador
Mumbai: Sharief Bhai, a brand from the house of Curefoods and a winner of multiple awards for its legendary Biryani announced its milestone of onboarding esteemed Indian cricketer T. Natarajan as its brand ambassador, today. A distinguished name in the world of cricket, T. Natarajan brings his remarkable achievements and indomitable spirit to enhance the essence of Sharief Bhai’s culinary legacy with this announcement.
Popularly known as T. Natarajan or also Thangarasu Natarajan, the cricketer was born on 4 April 1991 in Chinnappampatti, a village near Salem in Tamil Nadu. He entered the world of cricket in December 2020, when he was named as one of the four additional bowlers to travel with, the Indian cricket team to their tour to Australia. His journey from humble beginnings to international cricket is a story of determination and passion, which has made him emerge as a popular star in the realm of Indian cricket.
Currently representing Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he achieved a historic feat during India’s 2020–21 tour of Australia by becoming the first Indian cricketer to debut across all three formats in the same tour. The collaboration between T. Natarajan and Sharief Bhai signifies a union of values – excellence, authenticity, and a deep connection to one’s cultural roots. As the brand ambassador, T. Natarajan will further accentuate the essence of Sharief Bhai’s classic flavours and genuine hospitality.
“I am thrilled to be a part of the Sharief Bhai family as its brand ambassador, for a brand that resonates with my love for biryani, an authentic taste and culture,” expressed Natarajan. “Just as cricket brings diverse people together, food unites us Indians too. Biryani holds a special place in India’s diverse culinary heritage, and Sharief Bhai beautifully encapsulates the essence of this cherished tradition. I am grateful to the brand for bestowing me with this opportunity and look forward to celebrating the flavours of Sharief Bhai that would harmoniously unite a wider audience.”
Curefoods, chief business officer Gokul Kandhi shared his enthusiasm about the collaboration, saying, “T. Natarajan’s journey and dedication mirror the essence of Sharief Bhai – a commitment to excellence and heritage. Natarajan’s prowess on the field has earned him respect and admiration across the entire country. We are honoured to have him as our brand ambassador and while he supports us in this journey, we look forward to embarking a fruitful partnership.”
The cricketer also graced the launch of Sharief Bhai’s traditional restaurant in Coimbatore, where he actively participated in the event by conducting the inauguration and ribbon-cutting ceremony at a restaurant while additionally engaging in a meet-and-greet session with the guests.
Brands
Microsoft faces worst quarter since 2008 financial crisis
Cloud giant battles soaring AI costs and fierce competition from nimble startups.
MUMBAI: When the tech titan starts looking a little wobbly, even the Magnificent Seven can feel the tremors because Microsoft is currently starring in its own sequel, “Clouds and Doubts.” Microsoft is on track for its worst quarterly performance since the 2008 global financial crisis, according to Bloomberg, as investors grow increasingly uneasy about rising capital expenditure and intensifying competition from nimble AI firms. The company has been pouring money into AI infrastructure, yet markets are questioning when these hefty investments will finally deliver stronger revenue growth.
At the same time, investors are shifting away from traditional software stocks amid fears that AI startups such as Anthropic and OpenAI are developing autonomous agents capable of replacing established products, including those from Microsoft. Jonathan Cofsky, portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors, noted growing concern that customers may bypass Microsoft and deal directly with AI vendors, potentially disrupting its core business and putting pressure on pricing and margins.
Microsoft’s stock has tumbled 25 per cent in the first quarter, putting it on course for its largest drop since a 27 per cent fall in the fourth quarter of 2008. It has also emerged as the weakest performer among the so-called Magnificent Seven technology stocks, while a broader index tracking the group has fallen 14 per cent over the same period. The shares slipped a further 1.7 per cent after markets opened on Friday, marking a potential fourth consecutive session of declines.
Cofsky pointed out that Microsoft has become more capital intensive and that improved investor confidence will hinge on assurances that software growth will not slow materially. Despite the sell-off, the stock is now trading at less than 20 times projected earnings over the next 12 months, its lowest valuation level since June 2016. Its valuation remains slightly above that of the S&P 500 Index, although it has recently traded at a discount to the broader benchmark for the first time since 2015.
Bloomberg data shows Microsoft’s capital expenditure, including leases, is expected to surge to $146 billion in fiscal 2026, up around 66 per cent from $88 billion in fiscal 2025. Spending is projected to climb further to $170 billion in fiscal 2027 and $191 billion in fiscal 2028, based on average estimates. Investors are growing cautious about such levels of spending without clearer signs of stronger growth.
Microsoft’s Azure cloud division has reported a slight slowdown in growth compared with the previous quarter, while its Copilot AI product has seen limited user traction, prompting internal changes aimed at improving performance. Ben Reitzes, an analyst at Melius Research, warned in a March note that Microsoft’s upside in Azure could be constrained as the company works to address challenges related to its AI models and Copilot offering, adding that these issues are unlikely to be resolved in the short term.
Of the 67 analysts covering Microsoft, 63 maintain buy ratings, three hold ratings and one a sell rating. The average 12-month price target of $592 implies a potential upside of more than 64 per cent, the highest on record based on data going back to 2009. The stock is also trading below its 200-day moving average by the widest margin since 2009.
Reitzes suggested the dominance of buy ratings may indicate complacency among analysts, while highlighting risks in Microsoft’s productivity and business processes segment as well as its More Personal Computing division. In contrast, Tal Liani of Bank of America reinstated coverage with a buy rating, citing durable multi-year growth prospects across cloud and AI. Jake Seltz, portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments, maintained that Microsoft retains strong long-term value and that its AI strategy is likely to be validated over time, viewing near-term concerns as a potential opportunity for longer-term investors.
The report highlights a growing divergence in market sentiment, with optimism around long-term AI potential weighed against immediate execution risks and investor uncertainty. In the world of big tech, even the mightiest clouds can have silver linings but right now, Microsoft’s investors are scanning the horizon for clearer skies.
