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JioStar turns India’s T20 World Cup into a three-record challenge
Mumbai: JioStar has fired the opening shot for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India and Sri Lanka 2026, pitching the tournament not as a routine title defence but as a showdown with history itself.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the captain who lifted India’s second T20 World Cup in 2024, the broadcaster’s new campaign argues that India’s toughest rival in 2026 is not another team but a set of records that have never been broken.
Titled History repeat karenge. History defeat karenge, the film highlights three feats that remain untouched in the tournament’s history. No team has ever defended a Men’s T20 World Cup title. No host nation has won the trophy on home soil. No country has lifted the cup three times. As defending champions and the world’s top-ranked T20I side, India stand within striking distance of all three.
The film opens with Rohit Sharma addressing the nation, not as a strategist analysing opponents but as a leader reflecting on legacy. Traditional rivals are acknowledged, but quickly set aside. The real obstacle, he says, is history itself. The narrative shifts from numbers to belief, underlining that cricket is decided on the field, not in record books, before closing with a call for fans to back a side determined not just to repeat history but to defeat it.
Conceptualised by JioStar’s in-house creative team, the campaign leans into India’s sustained dominance in the shortest format, from its number one T20I ranking to having the world’s top-ranked batter and bowler. The tone is unapologetically ambitious, celebrating a team intent on pushing boundaries rather than protecting past glory.
“This World Cup is unique because India isn’t just playing against a diverse array of nations; they are playing against decades of never-been-done-before,” said Siddharth Sharma, head of sports content at JioStar. “Our campaign captures the intent to overcome historic odds. It’s about the audacity to believe that while history is written about the past, it can be rewritten by the present.”
The campaign follows JioStar’s recent film featuring India’s women’s world champions, with Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma and Deepti Sharma lending their voices in support of the men’s team. Fresh from winning their first ICC title, the women backing the men marks a symbolic role reversal and a nod to the growing stature of the women’s game.
India begin their World Cup campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, followed by Namibia on February 12, Pakistan on February 15 and the Netherlands on February 18. The tournament runs until March 8, with all matches to be broadcast on JioHotstar and the Star Sports Network.
For JioStar, the message is clear. This is not about defending a crown. It is about daring a generation to do what history says cannot be done.
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.
