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GEPL goes prime time: JioStar to air Season 2 of e-Cricket league with 34 knockout clashes
MUMBAI: Cricket, consoles and crores: JetSynthesys is bowling a bouncer into India’s primetime schedule. The company announced that season two of its Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL) will air live on JioStar’s linear and OTT platforms. For the first time ever, the esports league will hit national television, blending the thrill of gaming with the theatrics of traditional sport.
GEPL Season 2 promises an adrenaline spike with 34 high-octane matches slated from 27 April to 2 May. The broadcast window runs 11 am to 8 pm daily, across Star Sports and JioHotstar. In this edition, the prize pool jumps to Rs 3.05 crore – a bump up from Rs 2.51 crore in the previous season. Player interest has surged as well, with registration numbers skyrocketing from two lakh to 9.1 lakh.
Powered by Real Cricket™ and featuring a team-based format, the league will stage its matches in Bengaluru. According to organisers, this year marks a watershed moment in India’s esports evolution.
“GEPL is a high-energy league that mirrors the scale and professionalism of traditional sports. Our partnership with JioStar is a milestone; cementing our place on India’s biggest broadcast stage,” said JetSynthesys founder & CEO Rajan Navani.
CEO & league commissioner Rohit Potphode added, “With Season 2, we’ve sharpened our vision for GEPL that enables player growth, team development, and fan engagement at scale. Our presence on JioStar, across both streaming and TV, is strategic in expanding our reach and delivering a premier sports entertainment experience to millions of Indians.”
JioStar head of content – sports Siddharth Sharma remarked, “GEPL is a perfect example of innovation in sport, and we are committed to help it reach its full potential.”
As esports flexes its muscle on mainstream platforms, GEPL’s arrival on national broadcast is a sign of the times – a spectacle merging cricket’s legacy with the future of competitive play.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
