MAM
Datawind enters into partnerships with CricHQ
NEW DELHI: To satisfy the needs of a fanatic cricket nation, Datawind – the maker of Aakash PC Tablets – has signed a long term partnership with global cricket technology company CricHQ.
This partnership will see Datawind pre-installing the CricHQ app on all its tablet devices. With the ability to score matches, watch training videos and receive live ball-by-ball updates from cricket around the world the CricHQ app will give Datawind customers across India an enhanced way to interact with the game they love.
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This initiative between CricHQ and Datawind is aimed at bridging the digital gap between professional and grassroots cricketers across rural and urban India by providing them with a cricket technology usually reserved for the games elite.
Commenting on this partnership, DataWind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli said, “From an amateur gali cricketer in a small town to a professional player, anyone can afford our low cost PC Tablet. This Rs 4999 device not only allows you to make phone calls, access high speed internet, study with preloaded NCERT e-books, but now, with the CricHQ app coming preloaded, it also allows you to live score your own cricket matches, receive live ball-by-ball updates from cricket around the world and even access cricket coaching videos.”
CricHQ co-founder Stephen Fleming and former captain of the New Zealand‘s national cricket team said, “At CricHQ, our goal is to provide a cricket technology platform that enhances the way the entire cricket community experiences the game we all love. With the CricHQ app now coming pre-installed on DataWind devices it marks an important step in achieving this goal. We are especially excited at the opportunity our DataWind partnership provides of connecting cricket fans across India with the content they love to consume.”
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
