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India’s tour of England on Sony Sports sets viewership record
Mumbai: Sony Sports has revealed that the final day (17 August) of the second Test match between India and England played at Lords garnered close to eight million impressions. The final session of the match which had team England bundled out for 120 runs achieved an average viewership of 10.7 million impressions, said the channel.
The average rating for the series to date is almost 30 per cent higher than the 2018 series featuring the same teams. The average ratings grew by almost 70 per cent on the final day of the test.
“The viewership for ongoing England vs India test match series has been the highest for an away bilateral test match series featuring Indian cricket team in the past three years,” the channel said in a statement. “The ratings for the final day are the highest ever on a pay sports channel for a test match day featuring the Indian team playing away from home. The final session of the match was one of the most-watched test match sessions in recent years,” it added.
After a draw in the first test match at Trent Bridge due to rain, team India played the England team at Lords. KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma gave a strong start followed by an 89-run partnership between Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Mohammed Siraj took home four wickets on the last day securing India’s first victory in the test series.
“The India tour of England series has always been a high–profile test series and has lived up to both advertiser and viewer expectations. And after India’s thrilling win at Lords, more brands have come on board Sony Sports channels and look forward to reaching out to their target audiences and leverage on the huge buzz the series is generating,” said the channel.
Sony Sports roped in 12 sponsors including Mahindra & Mahindra, Byju’s, Pan Bahar, PharmEasy, Fogg, WhatsApp, Samsung, MRF, Cars 24, Ultratech, Airtel, and Kent for India’s tour of England.
(Source: BARC, All India, U+R, CS 2+, Day-wise impressions on pay sports channels)
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.
