News Broadcasting
“Women’s Premier League will unearth stars of the future, needs prime time telecast”-Cricketer Mithali Raj on ‘Duologue with Barun Das’
Mumbai: Cricketer Mithali Raj, known for her unrivaled batting skills and fierce determination on the cricket field, revealed a new side of herself on ‘Duologue with Barun Das,’ which is now available on News9 Plus.
“Mithali’s unique perspective on leadership and well-structured ideas on bridging the gap in a ‘man vs woman’ sporting culture made the duologue an insightful and memorable one,” said TV9 Network MD & CEO Barun Das who also dons the host’s hat on the series.
Asked if she is ready to take up the role of an administrator after a successful cricketing career, Raj said, “Yes. If I can be part of any role in administration to chalk out the structure for the grass root level or to (create) a yearly calendar for women’s cricket… and always (be) there for women cricketers whenever they feel the need to talk something out.”
Raj candidly shared some of her regrets while recounting the numerous successes she encountered during her 23-year professional journey.
“Despite being part of six world cups that I have played, I couldn’t get… the trophy. That probably is one thing that is missing in my cabin,” she expressed.
Being direct comes naturally to the ex-captain. In the first episode, she explains why she announced her retirement from cricket on social media on 8 June , 2022. Moving on from the past, Raj discussed the media’s critical role in shaping public perception of female athletes and expressed her desire for equal representation and opportunities as her male counterparts.
“Why BCCI is able to have a pay parity now is because for a long time the (women’s) team has been doing well. They have gradually started to market it because the team is giving results and marketing helped to let people come and watch or probably view it on any platform or television and that’s how you got digital rights. Other federations also need to do that,” she said.
About her confidence in women’s cricket attracting audiences, Raj said that marketing and timing are important. “If you don’t show the matches in prime time and if it is not a weekend, then I’m not sure if we can have crowds turning up for the matches,” she said of the upcoming Women’s Premier League slated for March 2023. However, she is confident about the format. “The WPL definitely will unearth a lot of stars of the future & increase the pool of talent that we have in our domestic structure,” she added.
Barun Das praised Mithali Raj’s leadership style and drew parallels with his own. On the final episode of the series, titled ‘Lessons in Leadership,’ Das asked Raj about her pre-match huddle with team members. “Do you tell your team, ‘Let’s go fight,’ or, ‘Let’s go win,’?” he wonders. The former captain’s response is sure to be plastered on pin boards in the locker rooms of cricket teams all over the world.
Duologue with Barun Das, starring Mithali Raj, is a new four-episode season on News9 Plus.
EP1: Making of a Role Model
EP2: Not Out! Women in Blue
EP3: The Battle of Equals
EP4: Lessons in Leadership
Duologue with Barun Das is a cerebral conversation with a legend or a future legend. As the name implies, it is a two-way interaction that allows for the free exchange of ideas. The purpose of duologue is not to provoke headline management, but to evolve emancipated influencer conversations.
News Broadcasting
CNN-News18 rolls out Battle for the States ahead of key polls
Multi-format election coverage tracks voter mood across five battleground states
NEW DELHI: CNN-News18 has launched a special election programming initiative titled Battle for the States, as India gears up for high-stakes Assembly elections across West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry.
Built around the theme ‘Road to Power’, the multi-format coverage aims to follow the entire electoral journey, from campaigning and polling to results and government formation. The network is leaning into on-ground reportage and data-backed storytelling to decode voter sentiment across regions where local issues often shape the narrative.
The programming line-up includes ‘Vote Tracker’, a three-part series developed in collaboration with survey agency Vote Vibe. The show blends survey insights with expert commentary and field reporting, using augmented reality graphics to present complex electoral data such as vote share, seat projections and leadership preferences in a more accessible format. It will air every Monday evening until April 6.
Adding a cultural lens to political reporting is ‘So Saree!’, a ground-driven segment where women anchors travel across constituencies dressed in traditional handwoven sarees from each state. The format uses attire as a storytelling device, highlighting regional identity while capturing grassroots voices.
Meanwhile, ‘Unfiltered Kaapi’ and ‘Chai-Niti’ bring a more conversational tone, drawing inspiration from everyday political discussions in tea stalls and coffee corners. These segments aim to break down key issues through candid, fast-paced exchanges between anchors and reporters, tailored to regional sensibilities.
For viewers seeking deeper insights, the weekend docuseries ‘Reporters Project’ takes a longer view, with correspondents travelling across constituencies to map voter concerns and political shifts on the ground.
“Elections are about people, their aspirations, identities and the issues that matter to them, and every state tells a different story,” said CNN-News18 editorial affairs director Rahul Shivshankar. He added that the initiative focuses on understanding “the sentiment on the ground and what’s driving voter choices”.
Echoing the emphasis on credibility, Network18 CEO – English and business news Smriti Mehra said the network aims to combine on-ground reporting with data-led insights to deliver clear and timely coverage as the elections unfold.
With a mix of data, culture and grassroots reporting, CNN-News18 is positioning Battle for the States as a comprehensive window into one of India’s most closely watched electoral cycles, where every vote carries a story waiting to be told.
