News Headline
JioStar hits it out of the park with planned Champions Trophy 2025 coverage
MUMBAI: The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 is set for a return, and JioStar Network is pulling out all the stops to deliver an unparalleled viewing experience. From 19 February 2025, cricket fans will witness the world’s top eight teams battle it out with cutting-edge broadcast innovations across television and digital platforms.
JioHotStar will be offering live streaming in 16 feeds across nine languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. This marks the first-ever ICC tournament to be streamed at such a scale, ensuring cricket fans across India can enjoy the action in their preferred language. Additionally, four multi-cam feeds on JioHotstar will provide a fresh perspective on the high-voltage encounters.
On TV, JioStar Network will offer extensive coverage across Star Sports and Sports18 channels, delivering commentary in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada. Indian Sign Language feed and Audio Descriptive Commentary will also return on JioHotstar, making the tournament more accessible and inclusive for all fans.
JioStar head of content–sports Siddharth Sharma said, “The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 will be presented with an unprecedented range of viewing options. Our expansive linear television network and dominant digital presence will bring cricket deeper, wider, and in a more immersive way than ever before. Every cricket fan, regardless of language or accessibility preference, will have a front-row seat to the action.”
A galaxy of cricketing legends will lend their expertise to JioStar’s coverage, making every match an engaging experience. English commentary will be helmed by Ravi Shastri, Sunil Gavaskar, Nasser Hussain, Matthew Hayden, Ian Bishop, Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Simon Doull, Dale Steyn, Shaun Pollock, and Aaron Finch.
The Hindi panel includes Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Waqar Younis, Sanjay Manjrekar, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Mohammad Kaif, Piyush Chawla, Sanjay Bangar, Aakash Chopra, and Deep Dasgupta.
For regional language coverage, renowned names such as Hanuma Vihari, Venkatesh Prasad, Kedar Jadhav, and Shreevats Goswami will add flavour to the commentary, ensuring fans across India get expert analysis in their native tongue.
The tournament kicks off on 19 February 2025 with Pakistan facing New Zealand in the opener. India, led by Rohit Sharma, begins its campaign against Bangladesh on February 20, before the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown on 23 February 2025. The final is slated for 9 March 2025.
(Picture courtesy ICC)
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.
