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Dream11 creates a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for hosting the ‘Largest Online Fantasy Cricket Match’
MUMBAI: Dream11, India’s Biggest Sports Game, today created a Guinness World Records title for hosting the 'Largest Online Fantasy Cricket Match'. This incredible feat was achieved by Dream11 during the 2019 final match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Dream11 users created over 1 crore (1,03,17,928) fantasy teams to compete in this fantasy sports match. To claim this record, Dream11 had to prove the participation of at least 40 lakh fantasy teams in that particular match. This is the first-ever Guinness World Records in the Online Fantasy Sports category.
The electrifying finale, which had the entire country on the edge of their seats, also proved to be an exciting playground for fantasy sports enthusiasts as fans of the game unequivocally surpassed the minimum requirement of fantasy teams playing the game of cricket at a given time to create history. Dream11 recorded over 1 crore fantasy teams created by over 43 lakh (43,77,610) unique users playing together for the final match of Indian Premier League (IPL) match.
Expressing his delight over the achievement, a Dream11 Spokesperson said, "Dream11 is excited to announce this record on India’s National Sports Day, as a dedication to our 7 crore+ users and their passion for sports. We are honoured to receive this certification from Guinness World Records. This global recognition is a validation of our belief in the rapidly evolving culture of sports fandom where more and more fans are seeking new avenues to immerse themselves in their favourite sports. This is resulting in a higher impetus for the sports ecosystem in India. We are deeply thankful to all our users who enjoy playing fantasy sports on Dream11 and made such an incredible feat possible for us!”
Swapnil Dangarikar, Adjudicator, Guinness World Records™, said, “After careful scrutinisation of all the evidence, I am very happy to confirm that Dream11 has set a new record for a Largest Online Fantasy Cricket Match with an impressive 1,03,17,928 teams participating. I am pleased to say, Dream11 is now Officially Amazing!”.
Guinness World Records is the ultimate global authority on new record creations as well as breaking old records that researches, measures, documents and authorizes the world’s superlatives. The creation of this record is a testament to the growing popularity of fantasy sports, and especially, Dream11 in India.
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With 57 per cent single new users, Ashley Madison rebrands as discreet dating platform
Platform says majority of new members now identify as single
INDIA: Ashley Madison is shedding the “married-dating” label that defined it for two decades, repositioning itself as a platform for discreet dating in what it calls the post-social media age.
The rebrand, unveiled in India on 27 February, 2026, marks a structural shift in business model and identity. Once synonymous with married dating, the company now describes itself as the “premier destination for discreet dating” under a new tagline: Where Desire Meets Discretion.
The pivot is data-driven. Internal figures show that 57 per cent of global sign-ups between 1 January and 31 December, 2025 identified as single: a notable departure from the platform’s married core. The company argues that its community has already evolved beyond its original positioning.
“In an age where our lives have been constantly put on public display, privacy has become the new luxury,” said Ashley Madison chief strategy officer Paul Keable. He framed the platform’s offering as “ethical discretion” for singles, separated, divorced and non-monogamous users seeking private connections.
The shift also taps into wider digital fatigue. A global survey conducted by YouGov for Ashley Madison, covering 13,071 adults across Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US, found mounting discomfort with hyper-public online lives.
Among dating app users, 30 per cent cited constant swiping and messaging as a source of fatigue, while 24 per cent pointed to pressure to curate public-facing profiles and early personal disclosure. Some 27 per cent said fears of screenshots or information being shared contributed to exhaustion; an equal share cited unwanted attention.
The retreat from oversharing appears broader. According to the survey, 46 per cent of adults actively try to keep most aspects of their life private online. Only 8 per cent feel comfortable sharing most aspects publicly, while 35 per cent say they are becoming more selective about what they disclose.
Ashley Madison is betting that this cultural recalibration towards controlled visibility can be monetised. By doubling down on privacy infrastructure and reframing itself around discretion rather than infidelity, the company is attempting to convert reputational baggage into a premium proposition.
