Launch Overview
On 8 October 2026, in New Delhi, In‑Dot Sports Pvt. Ltd. and Prasar Bharati announced the launch of the Kisan Cricket League (KCL), a nationwide sports and entertainment platform aimed at creating a structured pathway for cricket and singing talent from rural and semi‑urban India to reach the global stage.
Talent Hunt Scope
KCL will conduct India’s largest talent hunt, using a smartphone‑led national search, AI‑enabled digital screening and on‑ground trials to identify talent from a collective pool of several lakh participants. The initiative will select 140 emerging cricketers and 30 singers, who will be allocated to seven teams representing all 28 states and eight Union Territories. Selected singers will perform regional team anthems, appear in music videos and provide halftime entertainment.
Competition Format and Broadcast
The inaugural cricket season will feature a 15‑over white‑ball format with 45 live matches scheduled across seven stadiums located in tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities. All matches, two reality shows, and participant biographies will be streamed free‑to‑air on Waves OTT, Doordarshan and Akashvani, ensuring zero subscription cost for national and international audiences.
Government and Industry Endorsements
Sh. Vikram Singh Malik, IAS, Director of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, highlighted Prasar Bharati’s extensive reach and noted that the Waves OTT platform already serves more than 1.50 crore subscribers. He expressed confidence that KCL will fulfill the aspirations of rural youth by providing a bridge to mainstream exposure.
Leadership Commentary
Atul Pandey, Founder & CEO of Kisan Cricket League and a National Award‑winning director, described KCL as a long‑held dream rooted in his 38‑year career across entertainment, media and sports. He emphasized that the league combines cricket and singing to create a six‑month cultural extravaganza for global audiences and will honor winners and their communities.
Technology and Engagement
Ambika Das, CTO of KCL, explained that the KCL mobile app will serve as a digital equaliser, enabling verified registrations, online talent submissions, AI‑driven screening and audience participation through QR‑code integrations, voting and contests.
Management Team
The KCL leadership team includes Vikas Jain, CA, Chief Strategy & Finance (formerly CFO of IPL franchise Kings XI Punjab), Vandana Rajkhowa (23 years in marketing and digital engagement, previously with IPL franchise KKR), and Nitasha Narad (27 years in media strategy, formerly with Madison Communications, GroupM and Tata Teleservices).
About Waves OTT
WAVES, the Over‑The‑Top platform launched by Prasar Bharati at the 55th International Film Festival of India on 20 November 2024, offers video‑on‑demand, audio‑on‑demand, live TV/radio, live events, free‑to‑play gaming, e‑books, e‑magazines and e‑shopping across Android, iOS, smart‑TVs and streaming sticks. It supports 10 + interface languages and hosts content in 26 + Indian languages, aiming to bridge traditional viewership with modern digital consumption.
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