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Sony Six to broadcast IPL 2015 player auction Live
MUMBAI: Multi Screen Media’s (MSM) sports channel Sony Six will broadcast the Pepsi IPL 2015 Player Auction live and exclusive from Bangalore this February, ahead of the eighth season of the league. The bidding process will serve as the prelude to the year’s most anticipated sporting extravaganza, the Pepsi IPL 2015. The player auction will be broadcast live on both Sony Six SD and HD on 16 February from 9:30 am onwards.
Ahead of the auction, a total of 122 cricketers including 78 Indians and 44 overseas players have been retained by the franchises for the 2015 season, while six Indian cricketers have been traded during the window for player trade this year.
One of the biggest names to hit the auction table this year is 2014’s most expensive player Yuvraj Singh, who was bought for Rs 14 crore at the event last year. The other marquee players that will be auctioned, apart from Singh, include the Delhi Daredevils captain Kevin Pietersen and the team’s costliest player last year, Dinesh Karthik. Other top flight players who will be up for auction this year include Hashim Amla, Mahela Jayawardene, Eoin Morgan, Kumar Sangakkara, Murali Vijay, Darren Sammy, Angelo Mathews, Aaron Finch and Alex Hales. With a host of marquee names being auctioned this year, the Player Auction for 2015 will be an exciting opportunity for teams looking to rebuild their sides for contention.
Sony Six EVP and business head Prasana Krishnan said, “This year too, we are pleased to bring back the Pepsi IPL 2015 Player Auction live and exclusive to our eager audiences. With a line-up of some of the most renowned names in international cricket up for auction, this year’s edition promises to be an exciting viewing experience. With intriguing rounds of bidding, coupled with high quality and in-depth perspectives from our panelists, we are aiming to keep the audience enthralled throughout the event.”
The auction will be conducted by Richard Madley, a professional auctioneer from England who has been conducting the player auctions since the inaugural season in 2008. Sameer Kochhar and cricket expert Aakash Chopra will be seen sharing their insights on player and team strategies.
This year, the franchises have a salary purse of Rs 63 crore each for the eighth season – a five per cent increase over last season’s purse.
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.
