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Ratings peaked during ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 finals
MUMBAI: Cricket craze in India is probably the higher than in any other country in the world is a cliché. It is normal for Indians to sit eyes glued to the idiot box as their male team players chase or hammer leather. Women’s cricket had not fascinated the average Indian until this year during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 in which their braveheart lassies’ made it to the finals – winning every match till then. The finals of the World Cup between women from India and England on July 23 saw ratings breach an unprecedented 19.533 million impressions (All India) according to Broadcast Audience Research Council of India (BARC) data. More rural impressions were recorded at 9.962 million than urban which were slightly lower at 9.571 million. However, in the case of all the other matches that India featured in saw higher viewership from urban markets than rural markets.38.6 percent more men watched the match than women – to put in numbers – men and women viewership was 11.346 million and 8.187 million impressions respectively.
The breakup of networks was 14.263 million impressions (8.286 million male and 5.977 million impressions female) on the Star Sports Network and 5.27 million impressions (3.06 million male and 2.211 million impressions female) on DD National.
The India-England final witnessed a reach of 13.7 million. Indian women played only one match that they won quite convincingly by 95 runs against India’s arch foe and neighbour – Pakistan. This was match 11 on 2 July 2017. The match scored 2.933 million impressions on an All India basis. Reach-wise, the India-Pakistan match was sampled by more viewers than those during India-Australia semi-final match. The India-Pakistan match witnessed a viewership of 9.2 million whereas the semi-final saw a viewership of 6.5 million.
Please refer to the table below: (TG: All India, 2+)
A press release just after the final match circulated by Hotstar, the OTT platform on which the matches were also beamed, stated that India’s second-ever entry into a Women’s World Cup final had a peak concurrency of 1.9 million simultaneous viewers. And this happened in the tragic forty eighth over with India needing 11 runs to win off 12 balls. UP and Maharashtra contributed to 25 per cent of the total viewership on Hotstar.
From the UK, a record 1.1 million reportedly watched the final played between India and England. It was also reported that this figure was equivalent to the average audience that watched the popular Premier League’s Sunday afternoon matches, according to data from BARC India.
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.
