Sports
Adani Group targets Formula 1 return to Greater Noida Circuit
Billionaire revs his engines to put India back on the racing map
NEW DELHI: The Adani Group is shifting into top gear with a bold plan to bring Formula 1 back to the Buddh International Circuit (BIC). Having recently crossed the finish line on a massive deal to acquire the embattled Jaiprakash Associates, the conglomerate now finds itself in the driver’s seat of India’s only world-class racing facility.
Leading the charge is Karan Adani, managing director of Adani Cement and Adani Ports. For him, the circuit isn’t just a leftover asset from a corporate takeover; it is a golden opportunity to prove that India can compete on the global stage.
“I’m very excited,” Karan Adani noted during a recent briefing. “Obviously the Buddh circuit comes as part of the deal. I’m very personally engaged in terms of bringing Formula 1 back into India. I think India has a lot of potential.”
The vision is simple: why should Indian fans fly to Singapore or Abu Dhabi to smell the burning rubber when they could do it in their own backyard?
In the past, India’s F1 dreams hit a proverbial brick wall of bureaucracy. A long-standing row over whether racing was a sport or entertainment led to a tax headache that saw the engines fall silent after 2013. However, the government finally seems ready to wave the green flag.
Adani’s interest in the project is fuelled by a massive Rs 14,535-crore resolution plan for Jaiprakash Associates (Jal), which received the green light from lenders in late 2025. By taking the wheel at Jal, the Adani Group gains full control of the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida, effectively clearing away the private-sector financial hurdles that had previously stalled the track’s maintenance and upkeep.
Despite the hiatus, the venue remains a heavyweight in the racing world; it still holds the prestigious FIA Grade 1 certification, the highest global standard required to host Formula 1. Having successfully hosted three Grands Prix between 2011 and 2013, the circuit proved it still has plenty of life in it by recently welcoming the MotoGP Bharat in 2023.
While the tarmac at Greater Noida is still in excellent shape, getting back on the official F1 calendar is no Sunday drive. With record demand for race slots globally, Adani will need to convince the powers that be in London and Monaco that India is ready for a second lap.
If successful, the move could transform the Yamuna Expressway into a high-speed hub of tourism and prestige, turning a dormant concrete giant back into a cathedral of speed.
Sports
Sony Sports Network to broadcast 10 India cricket series
‘Goonjega India’ campaign brings non-stop Team India action from May 28 to Diwali across TV and Sony LIV.
MUMBAI: Sony Sports Network has just hit a massive six, it’s set to make Indian cricket goonjega louder than ever this season. Under its new campaign ‘Goonjega India’, the network will broadcast an unprecedented 10 major India series from 28 May 2026 right through to Diwali. Nine of them will also stream live on Sony LIV, giving fans wall-to-wall cricket across formats and borders.
The blockbuster calendar kicks off with the India Women’s Tour of England (3 T20Is and 1 Test in May-July), followed by the highly anticipated India Tour of England (5 T20Is and 3 ODIs in July exclusive to Sony Sports Network). The action rolls on with the India Tour of Sri Lanka in August, the India Tour of New Zealand in October-November, and both men’s and women’s T20 competitions at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (17 September to 3 October). Rounding off the line-up are four key ACC events: the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026, U19 Men’s Asia Cup 2026 and U19 Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer and business head of sports and international Rajesh Kaul said, “Cricket remains the biggest force in India’s sporting culture, and with Goonjega India, we are bringing fans an extraordinary run of Team India action from May 28 to Diwali. From the Women in Blue’s England tour to the men’s marquee clashes in England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, alongside the Asian Games and major ACC tournaments, this is one of the most compelling cricket line-ups on Indian television.”
To build excitement, Sony Sports Network has released three high-energy animated films that celebrate the scale, emotion and rivalry of the season from the opening roar on 28 May to the Diwali blockbuster in New Zealand.
From the first ball in England to the final fireworks before Diwali, Indian cricket is about to echo across living rooms like never before. Whether you’re cheering for the Women in Blue, the Men in Blue or the rising U19 stars, Sony Sports Network has made sure there’s barely a day without a reason to shout “India! India!” This season, the calendar isn’t just packed, it’s perfectly pitched.
