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LSG off-field performance promises exciting home debut season
Mumbai: The Lucknow Super Giants have produced standout performances in back-to-back IPL seasons on the field, however, the RPSG Group-owned team, led by Dr Sanjiv Goenka, also pulled off stunning accomplishments off the field during IPL 2023.
With the Indian Premier League going back to the home-and-away format this year, the Super Giants grabbed their opportunity of engaging with their home fans for the first time. The franchise’s 360-degree integrated marketing campaign highlights included outdoor advertising at over 100 sites across Uttar Pradesh, a partnership with Radio City, several on-ground activations to build LSG’s over 6000-strong fan club “LSG Brigade”, as well as extensive coverage across online and print media in multiple languages.
The season was kicked off with a glitzy jersey launch event on 8 March in the presence of BCCI secretary Jay Shah, key players like KL Rahul and Krunal Pandya among others, and was streamed live in eight major cities across Uttar Pradesh.
In addition, the Lucknow Super Giants conducted Jashn-e-LSG – an open bus roadshow with the team from Rumi Darwaza to Ambedkar Park in Nawabs. The world’s first-ever cricket-themed drone show followed the roadshow, with spellbinding still and motion pictures captured and shared across social media.
The BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium hosted IPL matches for the first time, and the franchise worked closely with the UPCA and stadium authorities to make the necessary infrastructural upgrades to ensure that the venue met international standards.
The Lucknow Super Giants’ initiatives resulted in around 3 lakh passionate fans thronging the stadium throughout the season, at an average of an almost full-capacity (50,000) crowd for Lucknow’s first-ever season at home. Furthermore, LSG and Lucknow Metro worked together to provide special late-night trains and feeder buses to make it easier for fans to head back home after matches. A fleet of E-Rickshaw shuttle rides was also organized at the stadium.
RPSG Sports Pvt Ltd MD & CEO Col Vinod Bisht said, “Forming an emotional connection with the cricket fans in Uttar Pradesh was critical for us and therefore we were thrilled to see that our initiatives paid rich dividends. Attracting big crowds to a new IPL venue was always going to be a difficult task, but our team emerged victorious in challenging circumstances”.
In the digital world, LSG rocketed up the charts in 2022 and stole the show with unparalleled video content across channels. The franchise engaged popular UP-based content creator Shubham Gaur, who created multiple viral short and long-form video IPs, helping the Super Giants cumulatively record over 500 million views during the season. The franchise registered the highest Engagement Rate, a metric which measures the quality of content, among all IPL teams on Twitter and Facebook. Moreover, they added about three million new fans to their social channels and reached close to two billion people worldwide online.
In the sponsorship space, LSG attracted over 20 commercial partners across industries like Fantasy Gaming, EVs, Industrial Steel, FMCGs, Digital Collectibles and NFTs, and more. The brands included My11Circle, Shyam Steel, Greenply, JIO, Vida by Hero Motocorp, Bondtite, Too Yum, Prayag, Spencer’s, Somany, Fan Craze, Royal Challenge, Kingfisher, Campa Cola, Dr Vaidya’s, Amul Organic, Radio City, Big Ant Studios and Souled Store.
After a great start in IPL 2023, the Lucknow Super Giants are keen to take their off-field game to an even higher level and grow their fan base across India and the world, in the years to come.
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.
