MAM
Sprite unveils ‘Thand Rakh’ brand films during ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup
Mumbai: Sprite, the lemon and lime-flavored beverage from the Coca-Cola Company encourages cricket fans to keep their cool during intense moments of matches through a series of brand films on ‘Thand Rakh.’ With the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, the natural impulse to become caught up in the intensity of the game’s heated moments is inevitable. However, Sprite comes to the rescue as the ultimate refreshment to help fans stay cool and composed when the pressure is high.
In a series of captivating TV commercials, a group of friends are shown engrossed in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. While one of them is fixing the house premises, others are glued to the TV without wanting to miss a single ball. As the match’s intensity rises, chaos ensues in the household at the same time. It’s during this pivotal moment that one of them extends an offer of Sprite to the group.
In another exciting and forward-thinking move, Sprite is embracing innovation and encouraging ‘Thand Rakh’ by launching the shoppable Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising campaign during the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan match on 14 October. As the game’s intensity surges, a rise in temperature is seen on the digital billboard representing Ahmedabad city and Narendra Modi Stadium. The temperature on OOH will change on a real-time basis the excitement levels of the match. In this unique and first-of-its-kind innovation, the intensity of excitement within the stadium is directly tied to the decibel levels, leading to the dynamic adjustment of the temperature displayed on the board.
Coca-Cola India senior category director Sparkling Flavors (India and Southwest Asia) Tish Condeno expressed her enthusiasm for the campaign, senior category director Sparkling Flavors (India and Southwest Asia) Tish Condeno, saying, “The new ‘Thand Rakh’ campaign revolves around embracing the unforgettable intensity that defines sports. Sprite, truly takes ownership of these heated moments, offering a refreshing solution during ICC Men’s Cricket World cup. We are thrilled to provide a cool respite for those impulsive, high-pressure moments that define the essence of the tournament.”
Ogilvy India CCO Sukesh Nayak said, “Sprite is established itself as the go-to brand when life throws situations at you that end up causing heat. The cricket world cup is one such situation. The campaign shows cricket through the lens of life in an interesting way that ends in a comedy of errors. It’s quick, snackable content that drives home the point of when heat strikes, Sprite comes to the rescue.”
Ogilvy India (North) CCO Ritu Sharda said, “The cricket World Cup is the biggest clash of the best teams from around the world. Obviously there will be intense moments and things will heat up. The films show how heated moments from a match get transferred to real life. We took words from the world of cricket and gave it a spin with real life situations where the meaning of the word is completely different. Resulting in heat. Making it the perfect ground for Sprite to come in as the official cooler of heat and to tell people to enjoy the world cup in full, minus the heat.”
The TVCs will go live during matches on Hotstar and Star Sports.
Link to the TVCs:
Brands
YES Bank hands the keys to SBI veteran Vinay Tonse as it bets on a new era
Former SBI managing director appointed as YES Bank’s new MD and CEO
MUMBAI: YES Bank is done rebuilding. Now it wants to grow. The private sector lender has appointed Vinay Muralidhar Tonse as managing director and chief executive officer-designate, with RBI approval secured and a start date of April 6, 2026 confirmed. The three-year term signals the bank’s intent to shift gears from crisis recovery to full-throttle expansion.
Tonse, 60, is no stranger to scale. Most recently managing director at State Bank of India, he oversaw a retail book of roughly $800bn in deposits and advances, one of the largest in the country. Before that, he ran SBI Mutual Fund from August 2020 to December 2022, a stint that saw assets under management surge from Rs 4.32 lakh crore to Rs 7.32 lakh crore across market cycles. Add stints in Singapore and four years leading SBI’s overseas operations in Osaka, and the incoming chief arrives with a genuinely global CV.
His academic grounding is equally solid: a commerce degree from St Joseph’s College of Commerce, Bengaluru, and a master’s in commerce from Bangalore University.
The appointment follows an extensive search and evaluation process by the bank’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee. NRC chairperson Nandita Gurjar said the committee unanimously backed Tonse, citing his leadership track record, governance credentials and ability to drive the bank’s next phase of transformation.
Non-executive chairman Rama Subramaniam Gandhi was unequivocal. “I am certain that Vinay Tonse, with his vast experience as a senior banker, will propel YES Bank to its next phase of growth,” Gandhi said, adding that the bank remains focused on strengthening its retail and corporate banking franchises and expanding its branch network.
Rajeev Kannan, non-executive director and senior executive at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the bank’s largest shareholder, said Tonse’s experience across retail, corporate banking, global markets and asset management positioned him well to lead the lender. SMBC said it looks forward to working with Tonse and the board as YES Bank pursues its ambition of becoming a top-tier private sector lender anchored in strong governance and sustainable growth.
Tonse succeeds Prashant Kumar, who took the helm in March 2020 when YES Bank was in freefall following a severe financial crisis, and spent six years painstakingly stabilising the institution, rebuilding governance and restoring operational scale. Gandhi was generous: “The bank remains indebted to Prashant Kumar, who is responsible for much of what a strong financial powerhouse YES Bank is today.”
Tonse, for his part, struck a purposeful note. “Together with the board and my colleagues, I remain deeply committed to creating long-term value for all our stakeholders,” he said, pledging to build on Kumar’s foundation guided by his personal motto: Make A Difference.
Beyond the balance sheet, Tonse played cricket at college and club level and represented Karnataka in archery at the national championships — sports he credits with teaching him teamwork, situational leadership, discipline and focus. In quieter moments, he reaches for retro Kannada music, classic Hindi songs, and the crooning of Engelbert Humperdinck, Mukesh and Kishore Kumar.
YES Bank has its steady-handed rebuilder in Kumar to thank for survival. Now it has a scale-obsessed growth banker at the wheel. The next chapter starts April 6.
