Sports
Sony Sports bowls out Rising Stars in four languages
Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 airs 13 to 22 February.
MUMBAI: The future of Asian cricket is about to take guard, and it is coming with fresh flair, fearless strokes and a four-language commentary box. Sony Sports Network, part of Sony Pictures Networks India, is set to broadcast the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 from 13 to 22 February, putting the spotlight firmly on the next generation of women’s cricket in the region.
For the first time, Indian viewers will be able to follow the tournament in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The multi-language feeds will be available for all matches scheduled on 13 February, 15 February, 17 February, as well as the semi-finals and the final, widening the net for fans across the country.
One fixture already circled in red is the India vs Pakistan clash on 15 February, a rivalry that rarely needs introduction. Even in a Rising Stars format, that contest promises intensity well beyond its age bracket.
Leading the Indian charge will be Radha Yadav, captaining India A and bringing with her the calm authority of a seasoned campaigner. A consistent performer in the Women’s Premier League, Yadav’s all-round credentials and leadership experience will anchor a youthful side eager to make its mark.
The squad also includes debutant Anushka Sharma, a batting all-rounder who has impressed in domestic cricket and recent WPL outings, earning her maiden national call-up. Strengthening the middle order is Humairaa Kaazi, known for her match awareness and ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
Vrinda Dinesh adds solidity to the batting unit, her domestic performances reflecting technique and temperament in equal measure. Minnu Mani, another all-rounder on the rise, arrives with a growing reputation in the T20 format, valued for her ability to influence the game across disciplines.
Beyond India, the tournament will feature Esha Oza leading the UAE, Anushka Sanjeewani at the helm of Sri Lanka A, Fahima Khatun captaining Bangladesh A, Natthakan Chantham representing Thailand and Rubina Chettri carrying Nepal’s hopes. The line-up underscores the tournament’s broader ambition: to give emerging talent from across Asia a stage big enough to match their dreams.
The Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026 will be broadcast live and exclusive across Sony Sports Network channels and streamed on Sony Liv, ensuring that from 13 to 22 February, the continent’s brightest prospects are just a click or a remote away.
For fans, it is not merely another tournament. It is a glimpse of tomorrow’s headlines, written today.
Sports
IPL 19 TV Ad Volumes Rise 10 per cent Despite Fewer Brands
Google storms top spot as e-com services and mouth fresheners lead charge in four-match clash with IPL 18.
MUMBAI: Google has bowled a perfect googly in the IPL 19 ad arena while the batsmen chased sixes on the field, the search giant has quietly smashed the biggest boundary of all, claiming 12.67 per cent of commercial airtime and leaving rivals gasping. Overall television ad volumes for the four live matches of IPL 19 hit an indexed 109.94 compared with IPL 18’s baseline of 100, a crisp 9.94 per cent jump that proves advertisers still see cricket’s biggest stage as the ultimate pitch. Yet the numbers tell a more nuanced tale. Categories slimmed from 47 to 40 (a 14.9 per cent drop) and advertisers shrank from 58 to 43 (down 25.9 per cent), suggesting a leaner, meaner battle where the survivors are spending smarter.
The new pecking order makes for fascinating reading. In IPL 19, Ecom-Other Services surged to the summit with 13.78 per cent share, nudging out perennial favourite Mouth Fresheners (13.57 per cent). Air Conditioners (5.94 per cent), Corporate-Financial Institutes (5.69 per cent) and Paints (5.23 per cent) rounded out the top five, elbowing aside last season’s heavy hitters. Back in IPL 18, Mouth Fresheners led at 10.73 per cent, followed by Ecom-Gaming (10.62 per cent), Cellular Phones-Smart Phones (7.83 per cent), Biscuits (7.66 per cent) and Cars (6.60 per cent).
On the advertiser leaderboard, Google’s 12.67 per cent dominance is unassailable. Reliance Consumer Products (7.28 per cent) took silver, Havells India (5.94 per cent) bronze, while Vishnu Packaging (5.56 per cent) and K P Pan Foods (4.80 per cent) completed the top five. Contrast that with IPL 18, where Parle Biscuits (7.66 per cent) topped the chart, followed by Vishnu Packaging (5.92 per cent), Apple Computer India (5.52 per cent), Reliance Consumer Products (5.31 per cent) and Billion Brains Garage Ventures (4.52 per cent).
Fresh blood has clearly refreshed the mix. Nine entirely new categories and a whopping 45 new brands entered the fray. Among the debutants making an instant splash: Chocolates, Laptops/Notebooks, Range of Hair Care, Corporate-Pharma/Healthcare and Footwear. Stand-out new brands include Google Search Engine, Google Gemini, Lloyd Designer AC, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate, Hero Splendor Plus Range and Joy Hello Sun Sunblock Anti-Tan Lotion, proof that even the most unexpected players are now eyeing cricket’s captive millions.
Conversely, 16 categories sat out IPL 19, including former stalwarts Ecom-Gaming, Cellular Phones-Smart Phones, Biscuits, Airlines and Fans. The message is clear: the ad economy is evolving faster than a T20 run-chase.
So while the on-field drama delivers its usual thrills, the commercial breaks are delivering something even more compelling, a masterclass in how to turn 22 yards of grass into serious brand territory. IPL 19 has shown that when the right mix of innovation and investment meets cricket fever, the ad scoreboard lights up in ways even the most optimistic analysts might not have predicted.
