Ruturaj Gaikwas is one excited chappie.
The Chennai Super Kings skipper, speaking exclusively on JioStar’s Star Nahi Far initiative, shared his excitement about facing the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and squaring up against Virat Kohli, in particular.
The two teams are clashing against each other in Chennai on Friday.
"I'm really looking forward to playing against RCB, especially with Rajat (Patidar) taking over as captain. When I heard that Rajat was captaining RCB, I sent him a message and wished him good luck. We've been friends for a long time and know each other well. RCB has always been a strong team and has consistently performed well every year," Gaikwad said.
He then went on to talk about why the match was all the more special.
"Whenever Virat Kohli is on the opposition side, the clash becomes even more exciting. He has been performing consistently for RCB and the country for years. Matches against RCB are always intense, and after facing Mumbai Indians, this is the clash we look forward to," the CSK captain observed.
Meanwhile, JioHotstar claimed to have registered their highest-ever reach for the opening weekend of TATA IPL with 137 crore views in 2025.
They claimed that TV Viewership surged with a 39% Jump in average TVR YoY, and 25.3 crore viewers in the first three matches - their biggest opening in IPL history, according to a release.
They also pegged the cumulative watch time at 4,956 crore minutes across TV and digital.
Sanjog Gupta, CEO - Sports, JioStar said, "The record-breaking viewership across digital and TV platforms over the opening weekend of TATA IPL 2025 reaffirms the tournament’s unmatched popularity bolstered significantly by the wide reach of our platforms and our commitment to creating deeper fan connections, in turn redefining how India experiences sports. With cumulative watch time of 4,956 crore minutes, this season has begun on an extraordinary note. As the tournament unfolds, we look forward to continuing to deliver an inclusive, intuitive and interactive IPL experience by serving every fan with a suite of customized viewing options, creating unmissable moments, unforgettable stories, and a truly immersive IPL."
