eNews
Swiggy sees 23.2 per cent order surge during T20 World Cup final
Chicken biryani tops match-day menu as fans order 7,500 times per minute at peak.
MUMBAI: India’s T20 final didn’t just break stumps, it broke Swiggy’s delivery records, proving cricket fans celebrate victories with plates, not just flags. Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, reported a sharp spike in food orders during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand. On 8 March 2026, overall orders rose 23.2 per cent year-on-year compared with the same date in 2025, driven by fans turning living rooms into mini stadiums complete with match-day feasts.
Key highlights from the evening:
- Orders during peak match hours (7–10 pm) were 2.1 times higher than pre-match levels.
- The highest order rate hit 7,500 orders per minute at 19:45.
- Chicken biryani reigned supreme as the most-ordered dish, followed by masala dosa, chicken fried rice, garlic breadsticks and paneer butter masala.
While metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad led volumes, the cricketing fever spread nationwide. Among emerging cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Surat and Rajkot recorded the strongest order growth. Smaller markets including Shillong, Agartala and Port Blair also showed significant appetite, underlining the expanding footprint of quick-commerce food delivery across India.
The surge reflects a growing trend of pairing major sporting events with doorstep delivery, turning big matches into shared, convenient celebrations. In a night where every boundary mattered, Swiggy proved the real MVP might just be the delivery partner who kept the snacks and the vibes flowing without missing a single wicket.
eNews
Collective Newsroom to produce BBC content in Bangla and Urdu in India
Expansion adds two major languages as CNR deepens its reach among young and diverse Indian audiences
MUMBAI: Collective Newsroom (CNR) has been commissioned by the BBC to produce journalism in Bangla and Urdu for audiences in India, marking an expansion of its multilingual news operations.
With the addition of the two languages, CNR’s mandate now spans eight Indian languages along with English, further strengthening its role in delivering credible public-interest journalism to diverse audiences across the country.
The newsroom will produce news, current affairs, digital-first storytelling and in-depth features covering subjects ranging from history and culture to business and health. The programming will also place particular emphasis on engaging younger audiences and women, while continuing to follow the BBC’s editorial standards of impartiality, accuracy and trust.
The move reflects a growing appetite for quality journalism in Indian languages and signals CNR’s expanding presence in the country’s evolving media landscape. By bringing Bangla and Urdu into its multilingual operations, the organisation also aims to encourage deeper cross-language collaboration and wider audience engagement.
Collective Newsroom editor-in-chief and co-founder Rupa Jha, said the development marks an important step in connecting with more communities across India.
“Bangla and Urdu have rich literary and journalistic traditions, and we are proud to bring focused, high-quality content to these audiences in India. Our priority remains delivering journalism that is accurate, independent and relevant to people’s everyday lives,” she said.
Collective Newsroom managing editor and co-founder Sanjoy Majumder, said the expanded remit will span digital, video and social platforms to reach increasingly mobile-first audiences.
“We will continue to invest in editorial talent, technology and regional partnerships to strengthen our multilingual output. This milestone reinforces our mission to build an inclusive newsroom that reflects India’s linguistic and cultural diversity while maintaining the highest editorial standards,” he said.
Collective Newsroom, a wholly Indian-owned company founded by former BBC employees, took over most of the BBC’s India operations in April 2024. The organisation currently produces BBC content in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu, along with English content on YouTube.
CNR also manages and produces the BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year initiative, which recognises women athletes and para-athletes.
Teams producing BBC News Bangla and BBC News Urdu for audiences outside India will continue to operate from Bangladesh and Pakistan respectively.
