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
Mastercard expands concert series with comedy and music format
Vir Das, Zakir Khan and Papon headline multi-city shows across India.
MUMBAI: From punchlines to power chords, the stage is getting a genre upgrade. Mastercard has unveiled the next phase of its multi-city concert series in India, blending stand-up comedy with live music in a format that mirrors the country’s evolving entertainment tastes. The new line-up brings together a diverse mix of performers, including comedians Vir Das and Zakir Khan, alongside singer Papon. The shift marks a departure from earlier editions that were primarily music-led, featuring global and Indian acts such as Enrique Iglesias, A. R. Rahman and Sunidhi Chauhan.
Curated in collaboration with Tribe Vibe and EVA Live, the expanded series is designed to create a broader cultural platform that brings humour, storytelling and music into a single live experience.
Vir Das will kick off the comedy segment in New Delhi with four shows across two days at Yashobhoomi on 9 and 10 May. Meanwhile, Zakir Khan is set for an extended run in Mumbai, with nine shows scheduled at Dome SVP Stadium across 12, 13, 14, 19 and 20 June, with additional dates expected.
On the music front, Papon will headline a six-city tour, beginning in Chandigarh on 16 May, followed by Ahmedabad on 29 May and Lucknow on 30 May. The tour will then move to Bengaluru on 6 June, Hyderabad on 7 June, and conclude in Indore on 14 June.
The series continues to offer exclusive benefits for Mastercard cardholders, including priority ticket access and premium lounge experiences at venues positioning the platform as both an entertainment and lifestyle proposition.
Beyond the spotlight, the initiative carries a social dimension. Through its partnership with Learning Links Foundation, Mastercard has enabled nearly 90 students from underserved communities across cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Chandigarh to experience live events often for the first time aiming to spark interest in careers within the experience economy.
As live entertainment becomes increasingly hybrid and experiential, Mastercard’s latest move signals a simple insight: today’s audience doesn’t just want a show, they want a story, a laugh and a memory, all rolled into one.
