GECs
Colors and Rajasthan Royals launches ‘Cricket Ka Ticket’
Mumbai : Colors and Rajasthan Royals have announced the launch of their brand-new cricket reality show, Cricket Ka Ticket. From 19 March , 2023, cricket fans across the country will be able to watch the show on Viacom18’s flagship Hindi entertainment channel Colors and Jio Cinema. TV presenter Mandira Bedi will host the first episode of the show.
A selected pool of 22 talented cricketers have reached the Rajasthan Royals High Performance Centre in Talegaon, Nagpur, chosen from lakhs of applicants who had registered for trials in December 2022. These uncapped and raw players will be given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to realise their cricket dreams. Trials for Cricket Ka Ticket were held in multiple cities across the country for both men and women over the age of 18. This cricket reality show provides a platform for those who have aspired to play professional cricket at the highest level to showcase their abilities.
These selected players will embark on an intense 8-week journey under the supervision of cricket experts who will work on their fitness, discipline, technique, and a variety of other aspects of the game. The show’s judges and guest walk-ins include Mohammad Kaif, Aakash Chopra, Jaya Sharma, Munaf Patel, Suresh Raina, Murali Kartik, Pravin Tambe, and MC Mary Kom. Furthermore, Rajasthan Royals players such as captain Sanju Samson, top-order batters Devdutt Padikkal and Yashasvi Jaiswal, and pacer Navdeep Saini will grace the occasion and interact with the talented pool of selected players. The Royals’ coaching staff will include the legendary Sri Lankan duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga.
The ultimate goal for each of these chosen men and women cricketers will be to bag the golden opportunity of appearing for trials with the Rajasthan Royals and other women’s T20 teams, along with a 1-year mentorship program with Rajasthan Royals coaches, mentors, and players. One male & one female winner will also earn themselves a cash prize of Rs 5 lacs each.
Viacom18 Branded Content, head Vivek Mohan Sharma, commenting on the partnership, said, “Colors has been at the forefront of creating ground-breaking reality shows and tentpole properties. Cricket remains a unifying sport for people in India and each of them dream to become a professional cricketer and play at the highest level. ‘Cricket Ka Ticket’ will be a unique platform where we merge cricket with entertainment, to provide a complete package of ‘Cricketainment’ for the audience and brands alike. Such impactful content goes a long way to foster audience engagement and leverage brand associations.”
Rajasthan Royals Chief Business Officer Alok Chitre said, “Our mission at the Royals has always been to ‘transform society through cricket and cricket through innovation’, and with ‘Cricket Ka Ticket’ we are delighted to have presented this life-altering opportunity to these select, remarkable boys and girls who have been scouted from across the country. We are a franchise that has always taken pride in unearthing young, unidentified talent, and in providing them with a platform to deliver. Through this talent hunt and under the guidance of the best sporting brains, we hope to find the next cricket superstars of India.”
MUMBAI: Lights, camera… connection because this time, the game isn’t just about winning, it’s about who’s with you. Sony Pictures Networks India is gearing up to launch a new reality game show, Tum Ho Naa, expanding its unscripted slate with a format that promises both emotion and engagement.
The show will premiere soon on Sony Entertainment Television and stream on Sony LIV, with Rajeev Khandelwal stepping in as host. Known for his measured screen presence and selective choices, Khandelwal’s return to television adds a layer of familiarity and credibility to the upcoming format.
While specific details of the gameplay remain under wraps, the positioning suggests a reality format that leans as much on emotional resonance as it does on competition, an increasingly popular blend in Indian television, where audiences are gravitating towards content that offers both stakes and storytelling.
Khandelwal, reflecting on his return, noted that his choices have often been guided by instinct rather than convention, describing Tum Ho Naa as a project that feels “close to the heart”. His association also signals Sony’s continued focus on anchoring new formats with recognisable faces who bring both relatability and depth.
The launch comes at a time when broadcasters are doubling down on original non-fiction formats to drive appointment viewing, even as digital platforms expand parallel reach. By placing the show across both linear television and OTT, Sony appears to be aiming for a dual-audience strategy capturing traditional viewers while engaging digital-first consumers.
As the countdown to premiere begins, Tum Ho Naa positions itself not just as another game show, but as a reminder that sometimes, the biggest prize on screen isn’t the jackpot, it’s the journey shared along the way.
