Viacom18 Sports, India’s newest premier sports network, have assembled cricket royalty for the TATA IPL 2023 Player Auction on December 23. Indian Premier League icons Suresh Raina, Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers, Anil Kumble, Robin Uthappa, RP Singh, Eoin Morgan, and Scott Styris will form JioCinema’s star-studded expert panel bringing fans the most comprehensive, immersive, and in-depth coverage of the auction.
Fondly known as Mr. IPL, Raina will headline the Hindi coverage alongside state-mate and former India left-arm pacer Singh on IPL’s Official Digital Streaming Partner. Universe Boss and Mr. 360 will join forces as former teammates Gayle and De Villiers will re-unite on JioCinema, offering fans a dash of entertainment, excitement and 360-degree views.
Former Indian men’s team head coach Kumble, IPL stalwart Uthappa, England’s World Cup-winning captain Morgan, and former New Zealand all-rounder Styris will put teeth into the English panel that will also bring in-depth narratives like never before in the lead-up to the auction that will see 405 cricketers going under the hammer.
The IPL Player Auction will be brought to viewers in India across six languages, including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam, on JioCinema.
“The TATA IPL Player Auction 2023 expert panel on JioCinema is an incredible group of the finest cricket minds that will resonate with viewers across generations and geography,” said Viacom18 Sports Head of Content Siddharth Sharma. “We are determined to serve the cricket-loving nation world-class, personalised content and presentation of one of the most valuable sports leagues in the world.”
“I am coming back to the IPL armed with a mike in hand,” said Suresh Raina. “It is exciting to be a part of the TATA IPL Player Auction 2023 along with my friends and former teammates and engage with fans across India.”
“This is as thrilling as it gets to return to the IPL in a different avatar with my former teammates and competitors for the auction,” said Chris Gayle. “I hope to get the same love from the fans in my new role where I will do some talking and not my bat.”
“India is a very special place and to come back to the IPL in a new avatar with JioCinema will is an intriguing prospect,” said AB de Villiers. “I hope fans enjoy and appreciate my work with a mic in hand in tow with these luminaries.”
“After playing, and coaching in the IPL, I look forward to being an expert panellist for the 2023 auction on JioCinema,” said Anil Kumble. “In the company of the most reputed names from IPL’s history, I am sure viewers will be offered a well-rounded and incisive coverage.”
“I’m glad to join this league of extraordinary gentlemen on JioCinema for the TATA IPL Player Auction 2023,” said Eoin Morgan. “With some of the sharpest minds of cricket dissecting the event, I reckon the fans are in for a treat this auction.”