First-ever high-altitude Kumbhabhishek at Somnath Temple during ‘Amrit Parv-2026’

Gir Somnath, May 9, 2026
For the first time since its reconstruction, the shikhar (spire) of the Somnath Temple will witness a Kumbhabhishek ritual using sacred water collected from 11 pilgrimage sites, marking a significant ceremonial development during the ongoing ‘Somnath Amrit Parv-2026’.

The ritual is taking place during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 11, who will perform a grand worship at the Somnath Mahadev shrine in the morning.

The event is expected to bring together traditional temple authorities and priests for the high-altitude ritual at the temple pinnacle.

As part of the ceremony, a large ceremonial kumbh will be lifted externally to a height of around 90 metres using a crane, after which it will be taken to the temple’s shikhar.

Priests accompanying the ritual will perform Vedic chanting as the consecration is carried out using water sourced from 11 revered pilgrimage locations.

The arrangements form part of the broader ‘Somnath Amrit Parv-2026’ celebrations currently underway in the temple town, which has drawn attention due to the inclusion of this specialised ritual at the reconstructed structure.

The Kumbhabhishek at the shikhar is being described by organisers as the first of its kind in the temple’s modern history.

Speaking on the development, Hemal Bhatt, President of the Sompura Brahmin Samaj of traditional temple priests, said: “For the first time in the history of the reconstructed Somnath Temple, Kumbhabhishek will be performed at the shikhar.”

He further noted that such rituals are generally observed in parts of southern India, where temple spires are periodically consecrated, typically every 10 to 12 years, as part of established religious practice.

However, he added that this specific form of high-altitude Kumbhabhishek at Somnath has not been performed before.

The Somnath Temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, has historically undergone multiple cycles of destruction and reconstruction, culminating in the present structure completed in the post-independence era.

The upcoming ceremony is set to add a new chapter to its ritual practices, with participation expected from priests, temple authorities and visiting dignitaries during the scheduled observance on May 11.(Agency)

Mohanlal aka Georgekutty continues his struggle to keep his family safe in “Drishyam 3′

Mumbai, May 9, 2026
The makers of Mohanlal starrer “Drishyam 3” unveiled the powerful and intriguing trailer from the movie on Saturday.

The clip opened with Georgekutty (Played by Mohanlal) sitting inside his home, along with his wife and daughters, as all of them are in the middle of a conversation. They are of the opinion that their involvement with the police and being blamed for a murder was all a thing of the past. They are convinced that they have finally been accepted back into society. However, Georgekutty is still not convinced.

Without sharing too many details, the trailer hints that this time Georgekutty will have to be on alert at all times, making sure he does not take even a single wrong step.

Made under the direction of Jeethu Joseph, “Drishyam 3” has been backed by Antony Perumbavoor under the banner of Aashirvad Cinemas.

Presented by Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios and Panorama Studios “Drishyam 3” will finally reach the cinema lovers in theatres on May 21.

Along with Mohanlal, the project will also see Meena as Rani George, Ansiba Hassan as Anju George, Esther Anil as Anumol “Anu” George, Asha Sharath as Geetha Prabhakar, and Murali Gopy as IG Thomas Bastin IPS, along with others.

Refreshing your memory, the original drama “Drishyam” came out in 2013 and turned out to be a cult classic, becoming the highest-grossing Malayalam film at the time of its release.

After that, in 2021, the second instalment in the ‘Drishyam’ franchise was released, retaining the core cast from the original flick.

“Drishyam” has since been remade in several languages, including Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Sinhala, and even Chinese.

Meanwhile, addressing the media, before the launch, director Jeethu Joseph had shared that ‘Drishyam 3’ would explore the next chapter in the life of Georgekutty.

“The film focuses on what happens in Georgekutty’s life after four-and-a-half years. That is the crux of the story,” Joseph had explained.(Agency)

ISL 2025-26: Chhetri sets milestone as Munoz claims first victory over Jamshedpur

Bengaluru, May 9, 2026
Pep Munoz signaled his intent early with a bold reshuffle of his starting XI, handing the captain’s armband to Rahul Bheke while recalling Namgyal Bhutia and Suresh Wangjam to the fold.

In a tactical gamble that would eventually pay dividends, talisman Sunil Chhetri began the evening on the bench, leaving Ryan Williams to lead the line as the lone spearhead for the Blues.

Though Bengaluru opened with intent, Jamshedpur FC provided the first real scare when Talal picked out Eric Messi outside the area. Messi unleashed a venomous long-range strike, but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu remained alert, parrying the effort to keep the deadlock intact.

The Blues survived another close call in the 23rd minute when Jamshedpur headed home from an indirect free-kick, only to be silenced by the linesman’s raised flag.

Having weathered the storm, Bengaluru finally pounced in the 38th minute: Fanai dominated an aerial duel at the edge of the box to set up Williams, who drilled a low right-footed strike past a wrong-footed goalkeeper to snatch a 1-0 lead before the interval.

The second half saw Jamshedpur FC emerge with renewed aggression, and they nearly found an equalizer when Eric Messi broke through for a curling left-footed shot. However, Gurpreet showcased his world-class reflexes, stretching out a strong right hand to maintain the slender advantage.

As the pressure mounted, the Bengaluru defense was forced into a dogged retreating action, absorbing waves of Jamshedpur attacks as the visitors struggled to find the clinical edge required to level the score.

The closing stages took a somber turn in the 83rd minute when Namgyal Bhutia was stretchered off the field, but his exit paved the way for a landmark moment in Indian football. Sunil Chhetri was summoned from the bench, making his 195th appearance to surpass Amrinder Singh as the most-capped player in ISL history.

With the record secured, the focus shifted back to the goalmouth, where Gurpreet produced one final heroic save to deny Messi Bouli in the dying embers of the game. Despite Jamshedpur’s relentless late surge, the Blues held their nerve, ensuring Pep Munoz’s first ISL win was as historic as it was hard-earned.(Agency)

Kiren Rijiju gives a lesson on Parliamentary practices to Trinamool MP Sagarika Ghosh on Tagore b’day event

New Delhi, May 9, 2026
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday reacted strongly to Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghosh’s accusation of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmakers being absent on the occasion of paying tributes to the celebrated poet Rabindranath Tagore on his birth anniversary.

“Not a single sitting @BJP4India MP present today at the floral tribute ceremony in Parliament on the birth anniversary of Kaviguru #RabindranathTagore. No Speaker of Lok Sabha present either. For @BJP4India grabbing power in Bengal matters more than Bengal. Tagore is only an election weapon for @narendramodi -@AmitShah. For @AITCofficial Bengal remains our eternal beloved motherland and Gurudev our pathfinder, our sage. Joy Bangla,” Ghosh posted on her social media X handle.

It accompanied a photo of her standing with folded hands in front of Tagore’s painting decked in flowers.

“You may be a new MP but you are not ignorant at all about the Parliamentary practices. When Parliament is not in session, any MP who is present in Delhi may pay floral tributes to the iconic personalities on their anniversaries at Samvidhan Sadan, otherwise MPs can pay tributes at any convenient location.

Parliament officials and some BJP Ex-MPs were present today at Samvidhan Sadan. Politics 24×7 is toxic. We didn’t do politics by questioning the absence of Congress & TMC Members,” replied Rijiju on the same platform.

The famous bard’s birth anniversary has turned into a political slugfest with BJP’s new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and some of his cabinet colleagues taking oath of office and secrecy on Saturday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, other cabinet and party colleagues, along with Chief Ministers of 20 states ruled by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) attended the grand event organised in central Kolkata.

In fact, it was the first time that the event was held at Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground with a Prime Minister in attendance. Tagore’s birthday was celebrated on Saturday according to the Bengali calendar on the 25th day of the year’s first month of Boisakh.

Trinamool social media handles had been posting messages insinuating BJP’s hand in stalling celebrations to mark the occasion even before the swearing-in event took place.

“Bengal administration DENIES PERMISSION TO HOLD RABINDRA JAYANTI CELEBRATIONS. Yes, you read that right, this is the New Bengal. This is the great ‘Poriborton’.

Permissions were sought for 3 different locations by non-political organisations – ALL DENIED.

Hence, we will continue to hold the celebrations honouring Kobiguru Rabindranath Tagore in the area adjoining our Hon’ble Chairperson’s residence,” announced the party’s official ‘X’ handle on Friday, adding, “@BJP4Bengal, mark our words – YOU CANNOT RIP OUT KOBIGURU RABINDRANATH TAGORE FROM OUR HEART & SOUL.” However, celebrations were not only held at Mamata Banerjee’s residence or its vicinity but at a few other neighbourhoods of Kolkata as well.(Agency)

Insurance fraud case: Body allegedly burned after death to fake electrocution; 4 held

Jaipur, May 9, 2026
Police in Rajasthan’s Bhilwara district have uncovered an alleged insurance fraud conspiracy in which a deceased man’s body was allegedly burned after death to fabricate an accidental electrocution case and claim insurance worth nearly Rs 83 lakh.

Four persons have been detained after doctors at Mandal Hospital raised suspicion over the nature of the injuries on the body.

According to Gandhinagar Police Station SHO Pushpa Kasotia, the body of Deepak (36), a resident of Naroda village in Ahmedabad, was brought to the hospital from the Mandal area on the night of May 7.

Deepak’s mother Champaben told police that a group of men had promised treatment for her son at a private hospital and brought them to Rajasthan. The group stayed at the house of one Dalu Gadri in Malola village of Bhilwara district.

She alleged that while the men had gone out for dinner, Deepak died. After returning, they allegedly asked her to sit outside the room and later suggested portraying the death as an accident.

Police said the accused allegedly burned Deepak’s big toe and one finger to create evidence of electrocution before informing hospital authorities that he had suffered electric shock injuries while working in a field.

Doctors became suspicious as the burn injuries did not match typical electrocution patterns. Marks resembling ECG electrode placements were also noticed on Deepak’s chest.

Before police reached the hospital, the accompanying men allegedly fled, leaving behind Deepak’s mother and his 14-year-old son.

Based on details provided by the boy, police tracked the suspects through mobile phone location data and detained four persons near the Gangrar toll plaza.

The boy alleged that doctors in Ahmedabad had earlier told the group that his father was unlikely to survive due to his deteriorating health condition. He claimed the accused instructed family members to conceal the actual cause of death and project it as electrocution.

Police said four insurance policies worth nearly Rs 83 lakh had reportedly been issued in Deepak’s name.

Bhilwara Superintendent of Police Dharmendra Singh Yadav said investigators suspect the involvement of a larger insurance fraud network, possibly involving agents and surveyors.(Agency)

Rashmika Mandanna says hubby Vijay Deverakonda enjoyed a ‘perfect’ birthday filled with love

Vijay Deverakonda Rashmika Mandanna Married

Mumbai, May 9, 2026
Actress Rashmika Mandanna revealed that husband Vijay Deverakonda’s birthday turned out to be a ‘perfect day’ filled with nothing but love.

Sharing some unseen glimpses from the time together on social media, Rashmika provided an overview of how she ended up spending VD’s special day.

Taking to her official Instagram handle, the ‘Animal’ actress wrote, “It’s my man’s birthday today and my day went like this…..In reverse tho…. Now we are headed to our friend’s place to celebrate, but before this we went to the gym and worked out, and before that I did some quick cardio while Vijju went out for a meeting and before that we went and met our boys and girls who’d come home to show Vijju lots of love and I also ended up getting lots of it as well and before that good mornings to paapalu dad and Shimmu happened who is here for Vijju’s birthday and thus it was a perfect day! (sic).”

She ended her heartfelt birthday wish by expressing her immense love for Vijay,

“I love the days when you had released the date for a shoot and for some reason it gets cancelled and you get to celebrate! love it! Happiest birthday to you my Viiijjjjjuuuuu!,” concluded Rashmika.

Earlier, VD’s younger brother, Anand Deverakonda, also wished him on social media, saying that this year the ‘Liger’ actor seemed to be more complete, confident, and courageous, as he celebrated his first birthday post-marriage.

Anand penned on the photo-sharing app, “This year you celebrate your birthday feeling more complete, with more confidence and courage than ever (red heart emoji) Happy birthday bigggg brother!!! (red heart and sparkle emojis),” Anand wished the ‘Arjun Reddy’ actor.

After keeping their admirers hooked for years, Vijay and Rashmika finally got hitched in a traditional ceremony in Udaipur this February.

Work-wise, Vijay and Rashmika will share the screen in Rahul Sankrityan’s upcoming period drama, “Ranabaali”, marking their first movie together after marriage.(Agency)

17 prisoners illegally released from Mizoram jail using forged court orders

Aizawl, May 9, 2026
Seventeen prisoners, including convicts and undertrial prisoners lodged in Mizoram’s Lunglei district jail, were allegedly illegally released using forged court documents and fake release orders, police said on Saturday.

Most of the released inmates have since been traced and re-arrested.

According to Mizoram Police, the 17 prisoners — including those convicted or facing trial under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and theft-related cases — were released from Lunglei District Jail between January 30 and March 18 this year on the basis of forged court documents.

In a detailed statement, the Mizoram Police described the case as a major fraud involving fabricated court orders purportedly issued by judicial authorities to secure the release of inmates.

The case came to light after Lunglei Police Station received a First Information Report on April 27 from R. Lalduhawmi, District and Sessions Judge of Lunglei Judicial District.

According to the First Information Report, during court proceedings held on April 24, 2026, two undertrial prisoners currently lodged in Lunglei District Jail appeared before the court carrying documents purportedly issued by the Court of the District and Sessions Judge, Lunglei Judicial District, on April 13, and by the Gauhati High Court on April 10.

The documents allegedly ordered their release on a discharge bond after payment of a fine of Rs 50,000 and also fixed April 24 as the date for their hearing.

However, the judge immediately noticed discrepancies in the documents, as the same two prisoners had already appeared before her on April 23 and their next hearing had been officially scheduled for May 8, 2026.

Growing suspicious, the judge personally visited Lunglei District Jail to verify the authenticity of the documents and seek clarification from jail authorities, the police statement said.

During the inquiry, it was discovered that the two undertrial prisoners were not isolated cases and that several other inmates had also allegedly secured release from jail using forged court orders and fabricated judicial documents.

Following the discovery, a First Information Report was formally registered at Lunglei Police Station, triggering a large-scale police investigation.

Acting swiftly, Lunglei Police launched an operation to trace the 15 prisoners who were initially identified as having been released using fake documents.

Of them, 11 were re-arrested and sent back to Lunglei District Jail.

One accused remained absconding, while the other had already been apprehended by the Khawzawl district police.

Authorities said 13 individuals were quickly traced during the initial phase of the investigation.

Subsequent investigation revealed that the total number of prisoners released through forged documents was actually 17.

Police said the released inmates included persons convicted or facing trial in serious offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and theft-related cases.

Investigators have also identified two main accused individuals who allegedly orchestrated the fraudulent operation.

The two accused were arrested on May 1 and remanded to judicial custody on May 7.

According to police investigations, Jeremia Lalthangtura allegedly deceived inmates by claiming he could arrange appeals in their cases and provide legal assistance through a lawyer he knew.

Police claimed that he collected money ranging from Rs 4,000 to Rs 50,000 from inmates in exchange for securing their release.

Investigators estimated that around Rs 1.35 lakh was collected through the operation.

According to the police statement, forged court documents were allegedly prepared on computers at a photocopying and printing shop in Rahsi Veng and on a computer inside the jail office at Lunglei District Jail.

Police have seized the computers and printers allegedly used in preparing the forged documents, and the devices have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for examination.

Authorities said the investigation into the case is continuing, and further arrests or disclosures may follow.(Agency)

Trisha Krishnan smiles ear-to-ear as Vijay prepares to be sworn-in as 13th CM of Tamil Nadu

Mumbai, May 10, 2026
Actress Trisha Krishnan, who predominantly works in Tamil cinema, attended the swearing-in ceremony of her rumoured beau, actor and politician Vijay on Sunday in Chennai.

The actress was seen in a happy mood, and she was captured in the lenses of the photographers leaving her home for the ceremony.

For the occasion, the actress opted for a teal and gold saree paired with a cream blouse as she headed to Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai for Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony as the Chief Minister.

Her mother, Uma Krishnan, also accompanied her. This comes after Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) failed to form the government multiple times earlier after the May 4 polling results.

Finally, Vijay is forming the government in Tamil Nadu with the support of several smaller parties after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly elections.

The supporting allies include the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Indian Union Muslim League, and Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam. Together, these parties helped TVK cross the majority mark in the 234-member Assembly.

Vijay’s party emerged as the single largest party after it secured 108 seats in the recently conducted Tamil Nadu assembly elections. With its victory, TVK has ended the alternating rule of the State’s two dominant Dravidian parties, DMK and AIADMK.

The Governor has also directed Mr. Vijay to seek a vote of confidence in the Assembly on or before May 13, 2026.

In February this year, it was reported that Vijay’s wife of close to three decades, Sangeeta Sornalingam, had filed for divorce, citing infidelity and alleging an affair with an unnamed actress. Days after that, in March, Vijay and Trisha wore matching cream and gold outfits as they attended a wedding reception in Chennai.(Agency)

Rahul Gandhi expresses grief over Karnataka Minister Sudhakar’s demise, calls him ‘torchbearer of Congress ideology’

Chennai, May 10, 2026
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi expressed distress on Sunday over the passing of Karnataka Minister D. Sudhakar, calling him a “torchbearer of Congress ideology” and recalling his service to the poor of the state.

Karnataka Minister for Planning and Statistics Sudhakar passed away in the early hours of Sunday at KIMS Hospital in Bengaluru, where he had been undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the past month. Hospital authorities confirmed his death in a statement, saying that he passed away at 3.15 a.m.

He is survived by his wife Harshini, son Suhas, and daughter Spoorthi.

In a post on X, Gandhi said: “Deeply saddened by the passing of senior Congress leader and Karnataka Minister, D. Sudhakar ji. A torchbearer of Congress ideology, his life was spent in the service of the poor of Chitradurga and Karnataka. My condolences to his family and supporters.”

Four-time MLA Sudhakar initially got admitted to the Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru for knee surgery. After the surgery, he developed an infection in his lungs, which turned serious. He was later shifted to KIMS Hospital, and preparations were underway for lung transplantation. However, before this could transpire, he passed away.

Sudhakar was originally from Challakere and belonged to the Jain community. Born on March 28, 1961, he was the third son of businessman Dasharathayya and Kanchanmala. After obtaining a B.Com degree, he entered politics.

He was the current Congress MLA from Hiriyur and the President of the Chitradurga DCC Bank. He was first elected as an MLA from the Challakere Assembly constituency in 2004. Later, after Challakere became a reserved constituency, he shifted to the Hiriyur constituency in 2008 and won as an independent candidate.

He had supported the BJP government in 2008. During this period, Sudhakar also served as the Minister for Social Welfare in the B. S. Yediyurappa government. A year later, the Beggars’ Colony scam came to light, following which the Social Welfare portfolio was taken away from him. He was later made the Minister for the Muzrai Department.

He was elected as a Congress MLA from the Hiriyur constituency in 2013. Later, he lost to Poornima Srinivas in 2018. Later in 2023, he won the seat against Srinivas as a candidate from the Congress.

During the drought in Chitradurga district, he personally cultivated fodder around the lakes in Hiriyur and distributed it to farmers’ cattle, a service that is still remembered by the people.

Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, expressing distress, stated: “I am deeply saddened by the demise of our cabinet colleague and close associate, D. Sudhakar, who had been undergoing treatment for illness and passed away today.”

He further stated that Sudhakar had “rendered commendable public service in an effective manner”.

“It is painful that Sudhakar has left behind his family members, relatives, and a large number of supporters today. I pray that God grants eternal peace to the soul of D. Sudhakar and gives strength to his family to bear this loss. Om Shanti,” the Deputy Chief Minister said.

Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Assembly R. Ashoka said: “My condolences on the passing of Shri D. Sudhakar, Minister for Planning and Statistics Department and District In-charge Minister of Chitradurga. I pray that the Almighty grants eternal peace to his soul and gives strength to his family members to bear the sorrow of this irreparable loss.”(Agency)

Audience has not left the IPL but has simply shifted to different platforms: Lalit Modi

New Delhi, May 10, 2026
The Indian Premier League (IPL) founder Lalit Modi believes the discussion around falling IPL television ratings is seriously flawed and thinks the tournament has grown into one of the world’s largest digital entertainment ecosystems, rather than just being a television product.

While discussing how people consume the Indian Premier League, the IPL founder argued that analysts are stuck in the past by only focusing on traditional television viewership.

“The mistake many analysts make is treating IPL like it’s still a pure television property. It is not. The IPL has turned into a multi-screen, multi-platform entertainment ecosystem,” Modi told IANS in an exclusive conversation.

“Measuring a digital-first global sports property only through television ratings is like measuring the internet through newspaper circulation.”

He stated that the audience has not left the IPL but has simply shifted to different platforms as sports consumption habits change around the world.

“The audience has not disappeared. The audience has migrated,” Modi explained, emphasizing that “the screen changed, the audience did not.”

Modi pointed out that much of the recent criticism about IPL viewership comes from selectively interpreting television data.

“The headlines shouting ‘IPL viewership decline’ are quoting one metric: Average Minute Audience on linear television. That is just one part of the ecosystem,” he said.

He argued that the larger changes in sports broadcasting worldwide are being overlooked, as audiences increasingly turn to OTT platforms, mobile devices, and connected televisions.

“Viewers are moving from broadcast TV to OTT. Families are splitting their viewing across devices. Young audiences prefer mobile and connected TV. Advertisers are looking for measurable engagement, not just TV ratings,” Modi said.

Emphasizing the scale of the tournament’s reach, Modi claimed that IPL’s cumulative audience across platforms during the 2026 season had already surpassed 1.06 billion viewers even before the playoffs.

“That is not a decline. That is an expansion,” he asserted.

Modi also highlighted that television can no longer serve as the only measure for sporting success.

“Linear TV was once the only screen. Now it’s just one screen among many,” he said, adding that connected TV concurrency had increased by 61 percent year-on-year while the watch time during the opening weekend had grown by 26 percent.

“The audience did not leave IPL. They upgraded their screens,” he remarked.

Making comparisons with other major sports leagues, Modi noted that the IPL is experiencing the same digital shift seen in leagues like the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Premier League, and Olympic Games.

“This is not unique to cricket. Traditional TV is fading while streaming grows, mobile attracts younger viewers, and connected TV becomes the main household screen,” he said.

However, Modi believes the IPL’s transition has been particularly pronounced because of India’s mobile-first digital ecosystem.

“No sporting league in the world—be it EPL, NBA, or NFL—has seen this kind of transition. Sure, our population plays a role, but that oversimplifies things. Availability doesn’t mean consumption—in the case of the IPL, it does,” he said.

Modi explained why advertisers are increasingly choosing digital platforms over traditional television.

“Television can tell you a household watched. Digital can tell you who watched, how long, on what device, whether they interacted, and if they made a purchase. That is the future of advertising,” he said.

He shared that 125 new brands had joined the IPL’s digital advertising ecosystem this season, while connected TV ad prices continued to rise.

“Watch time across all platforms is expected to surpass last year’s record levels,” Modi added.

According to Modi, the true measure of modern sports success lies not in single-screen television ratings but in “cumulative reach, total watch time, engagement depth, concurrency, advertiser demand, and cross-platform influence.”

By those standards, he believes the IPL remains unparalleled globally.

“Projected combined watch time for IPL 2026: 850–900 billion minutes. That is extraordinary,” he said.

Modi also urged for the swift creation of an accurate and standardized digital measurement system for Indian sports broadcasting, similar to BARC for television.

“It’s time we have a proper measurement system like BARC for digital viewership. It’s overdue. Insights and a detailed understanding of audience profiles and viewing habits are essential,” he said.

Summing up his view on the league’s growth, Modi said the IPL in 2026 is no longer just a cricket competition.

“It is a digital entertainment ecosystem, a mobile-first phenomenon, and one of the largest real-time engagement platforms in the world,” he said.

“The measurement model changed. The audience behavior changed. The scale did not shrink. It expanded. The IPL did not lose its audience. The audience simply changed screens. Measuring a digital-first global sports property only through television ratings is like measuring the internet through newspaper circulation.”(Agency)

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