iWorld
GroupM sports report: Cricket leads in online buzz, but Olympics and Football are flexing their muscles
MUMBAI: India’s digital sports scene is a proper riot, with cricket still the undisputed king, but other sports are making a right racket too, according to GroupM ESP’s Sporting Nation report for 2024. According to the data, a whopping 74.70 per cent of online sports conversations revolve around cricket, proving it’s more than just a game; it’s a national obsession.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) takes the crown for sporting event chatter, accounting for a staggering 56.65 per cent of all online discussions. It’s a two-month T20 spectacle that keeps fans glued to their screens and keyboards.
But the Paris Olympics also made a significant splash, grabbing 24.46 per cent of the online conversation. It seems India’s medal hopes in shooting, wrestling, javelin, and badminton whipped up a proper frenzy. And while the T20 World Cup saw a 15.17 percent share of discussion, the Olympics still pipped it to the post.
Football, meanwhile, trails behind at 12.62 per cent, showing a more “nuanced but demographically concentrated following.”
It’s not just the Indian Super League (ISL) getting tongues wagging; global events like the FIFA World Cup and European leagues are also part of the digital discourse.
When it comes to individual athletes, cricket’s Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli dominate, accounting for over two-thirds of all athlete-related discussions. Rohit’s T20 World Cup victory and Kohli’s “generational talent” debates keep them firmly in the spotlight.
Outside cricket, wrestler Vinesh Phogat’s Olympic disqualification sparked a wave of online sympathy, placing her third in athlete chatter. Neeraj Chopra, Manu Bhaker, Lakshya Sen, PV Sindhu, and chess champ Gukesh Dommaraju also made their mark, capturing the nation’s imagination.
Team-wise, Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings (CSK) lead the IPL pack, while Mohun Bagan Super Giant reigns supreme in the ISL.
The data reveals that Indian sports fans are a passionate bunch, shaping narratives and amplifying their voices through digital platforms. They’re not just spectators; they’re active participants in the sporting drama. And with increased media penetration and improved streaming, their voices are louder than ever. It’s a proper digital sports carnival.
iWorld
Samay Raina returns with Still Alive, confronts 2025 controversy in bold comeback special
Comeback set tackles controversy, blending humour with raw storytelling
MUMBAI: Samay Raina is set to release his new stand-up comedy special, Still Alive, on YouTube on April 7, 2026, marking a high-profile return following a turbulent year.
The trailer for the special dropped on April 5, offering a glimpse into what Raina describes as a raw and unfiltered set that leans as much on honesty as it does on humour.
Positioned as a comeback of sorts, Still Alive draws heavily from the controversy surrounding his show India’s Got Latent in early 2025. The episode led to legal trouble, multiple FIRs, and a lengthy six-hour interrogation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, placing the comedian at the centre of intense public scrutiny.
Rather than sidestep the episode, Raina leans into it. The special reflects on the fallout and his personal journey through it, blending observational comedy with moments of emotional candour. Early audience feedback from live performances suggests the tone is less about rapid-fire punchlines and more about storytelling with bite.
The special was filmed during his global Still Alive & Unfiltered tour, which ran from August 2025 to early 2026. The tour saw Raina perform across major international venues, including the Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York, a milestone that places him among the youngest Indian comedians to take that stage.
The title itself signals resilience. “Still Alive” is a nod to navigating both legal and public backlash while choosing to remain unapologetically authentic, a theme that appears to anchor the set.
With the special set to premiere online, all eyes are now on how audiences respond to a performance that promises equal parts reflection and wit. For Raina, the message is clear. He is not just back, he is ready to be heard on his own terms.
