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FanCode to exclusively broadcast India tour of West Indies in July
Mumbai: India’s premier digital sports destination FanCode has become the exclusive broadcaster for CWI until 2024, and will be the only platform streaming these matches live for Indian audiences. With this, FanCode has become the first-ever digital-only platform to host an India bilateral series and is expected to reach 10 crore sports fans.
The series will be played during India’s prime-time with ODIs starting at 7 pm and T20Is starting at 8 pm IST; and fans can watch the action live across FanCode app and its official website.
Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the board of control for cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s tour of the West Indies to play three ODIs and five T20Is between 22 July and 07 August. The ODI series and three T20Is will be hosted across Trinidad and Tobago and St Kitts & Nevis, with the final two T20Is scheduled for Lauderhill, Florida in the USA.
FanCode has developed a comprehensive and immersive digital experience aimed at redefining sports consumption for fans in India. Fans can customize their experience and select their commentary language, statistics and analysis of choice through interactive overlays while watching the live stream. From Kohli’s beautiful straight drive to Rovman Powell’s clean power hitting, they will also be able to rewatch and relive any moment from the game almost in real-time. Another offering unique to FanCode is its focus on keeping the series accessible to all users with subscription options like Tour Pass and Match Pass, where fans can select and pay for the entire series or certain matches they want to watch.
The series is highly anticipated as India returns to the Caribbean after three years and will be led by new captains Rohit Sharma and Nicholas Pooran, with the latter taking over the reins from Kieron Pollard. The series will be a culmination of an action-packed summer for both the teams in the buildup to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
Speaking about this, Cricket West Indies CEO Johnny Grave said, “Our four-year deal with FanCode has brought Indian cricket fans closer to CWI’s live properties across multiple formats that has featured the top cricketing nations like South Africa, Pakistan, Australia and England. FanCode has become the go-to platform for Indian fans to consume cricket in a digital-first manner which has redefined the sports viewing experience.”
Commenting on the Tour, FanCode co-founder Prasana Krishnan said, “We are delighted to bring the iconic series to our consumers. Our long-term partnership with CWI is a testament of our commitment to providing our users with a fan-first digital experience. FanCode will ensure a customized and seamless experience, right from the choice of their preferred language, match graphics, and real-time highlights, to a multitude of subscription options.”
West Indies Captain Nicholas Pooran on the upcoming series, said, “We have a young team that is eager to restore the brand of cricket the West Indies team is known for playing. As I take charge of this team, our ambition is to always be competitive, as we look to use this series to fine tune our preparations for the upcoming T20 and 50 Over World Cups.”
eNews
Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
