iWorld
CricPlay recreates first-ever free ‘rewind series’ cricket matches amid COVID-19 lockdown
MUMBAI: CricPlay unveiled the country’s first-ever free ‘Rewind Series’ gameplay on its fantasy cricket platform that enables gamers to revisit some of the most historical cricket matches around the world by picking their favourite XI cricketers from a team of the pre-timed upcoming match.
CricPlay business head Gaurav Sarin says, “In times of crisis such as this, we believe people need a well-deserved break and we have worked hard to offer mobile gamers & sports lovers across the country some joy in reliving iconic cricket matches with the new exciting game that we conceptualised called ‘Rewind Series’. We invite every cricket-loving Indian to go ahead and enjoy rolling back the clock on our rich cricketing heritage over by over.”
In order to participate in this limited-period contest, gamers would need to download the CricPlay app from Google Play or log in to www.cricplay.com & register for the upcoming 'Rewind Series’ to play with a Cricplat-assigned ‘Rewind Expert’.
Every contestant joining the game would know the match year and player line-ups of both teams half-an-hour in advance, but the exact match date would be kept a secret until the start of the game to preserve the element of surprise. Winning players are eligible to win CricPlay Coins if they appear on the leaderboard.
Besides the ‘Rewind Series’, CricPlay features five major formats – Mega Fantasy Leagues, Super Leagues, Challenger Leagues, Star Contest and Daily Predictions. In the ‘Mega Fantasy League’ format, the app allows users the choice to play with other gamers across the country and win money, create private contests and invite their friends or join the ones created by them and compete with them in the same fantasy format.
Every team scores points based on the actual performance of the player picked during the match, and the highest-scoring team wins. ‘Super League’ is original gameplay where gamers can select a team per match and select power-ups like ‘Substitution’, ‘captain changer’ or ‘vice-captain changer’ for an enhanced gaming experience.
Challenger Leagues allow users to compete with each other on limited leader-boards & win prizes. Star Contest is one of the most innovative gameplays launched by CricPlay that enables its users to play with one of Cricket’s greatest minds. In ‘Daily Predictions’, gamers leverage their cricketing knowledge to determine a winning outcome before the match starts and win cash provided they have the highest daily consecutive correct predictions.
iWorld
Meta tests Instagram Plus with stealth features and extended story tools
New paid tier targets everyday users with more control and privacy perks
MUMBAI: Meta appears to be doubling down on subscriptions, quietly testing a new premium tier called Instagram Plus that brings a mix of privacy, control and visibility tools to everyday users of Instagram.
Unlike Meta Verified, which is geared towards creators and businesses, the new offering is aimed squarely at regular users who want a little more control over how they show up and what they see on the platform.
At the heart of Instagram Plus is a rethink of Stories, the app’s most widely used feature. The test introduces the ability to view Stories anonymously, meaning users can watch or preview content without appearing in the viewer list. It also adds “rewatch insights”, allowing users to see how many times their own Stories have been viewed, a metric that has long been a source of curiosity.
There is more. Stories can stay live for up to 48 hours instead of the usual 24, giving posts a longer shelf life. Users can also create multiple audience lists beyond “Close Friends”, making it easier to tailor content for different circles such as work, family or social groups.
For those chasing visibility, a weekly “Story Spotlight” feature lets users push a post to the front of their followers’ feed. Meanwhile, searchable viewer lists make it simpler to track who has seen a Story, and a new “superlike” reaction adds a more animated way to stand out in direct messages.
The feature set may feel familiar to some. Several of these tools have previously existed through third-party workarounds or have been widely requested by users, particularly the ability to browse Stories discreetly.
Pricing for the test is deliberately modest, suggesting a strategy focused on scale. Early trials show subscription costs at roughly $1 to $2 per month in markets such as the Philippines, Mexico and Japan. The feature has not yet rolled out in India, the United States or Europe, though a broader launch later in 2026 is widely expected if the pilot gains traction.
The move reflects a broader shift in Meta’s business model. With digital advertising facing increasing competition and regulatory scrutiny, subscription products offer a more predictable revenue stream. Rivals such as Snapchat Plus have already found success, building a sizeable paying user base with similar premium add-ons.
For Meta, the bet is simple: give users more control, a touch of stealth and a dash of exclusivity, and they may be willing to pay. If the early signs hold, Instagram Plus could turn everyday scrolling into a slightly more curated, and monetised, experience.
