Meta has collaborated with content material creators, a couple of particular groups and Star Sports to deliver alive the fan expertise on Instagram and Threads.

Collaborating with over 250 content material creators

The enthusiasm that individuals in India have for his or her pursuits is unparalleled. According to the 2024 GenZ Trend Talk report, greater than 90 per cent of teenagers establish themselves as a part of a fandom, with cricket being certainly one of their predominant pursuits. This was evident in the course of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 which acquired over 16.9 billion views on ICC’s platforms on Meta.

Meta is collaborating with over 250 content material creators to amplify discussions on Threads in the course of the present match. Some of those accounts embody:

Teams – Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Experts – ex cricketer Akash Chopra, sports activities presenter Ridhima Pathak and analyst Mufaddal Vohra.
Creators – Naveen Singh aka bihariladka, Shreyas Mendiratta and Deepika Venkatachalam aka deepika_v__

“The current cricket fever is all about intense rivalries, passionate involvement and strong fan following. With platforms like Threads that enable fans and experts to voice their opinions and Instagram that allows fans and athletes to share moments and create unique content related to the games, we are dedicated to heighten this excitement through our partnerships and collaborations with creators from all over India. We’re thankful to our partners like Star Sports as well, to join in this journey,” Paras Sharma, director, content and community partnerships, Meta, India.

Partnering with Star Sports to enhance fan experiences

Meta has teamed up with Star Sports, as they did during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, to create engaging experiences for fans throughout the tournament. This is being achieved through regular interventions at various touchpoints.

‘Ask Star’ – During a live match, fans can submit their questions to the commentary team at Star Sports on Threads, who will then select some of them to answer.
‘Ajab Gajab T20 Challenge’ – Star Sports developed a one-of-a-kind concept where former cricketers and a group of content creators played a game of box cricket before the start of the tournament. The participants included cricketers such as Harbhajan Singh, Irfaan Pathan, and Steve Smith, as well as content creators like Naveen Singh, Dharna Durga and Rishabh Shukla. This event was broadcasted on Star Sports and also available on reels for fans to watch.
‘Shor Squad’ – A group of selected creators will have the opportunity to have their reels broadcasted live during the matches.

“At Star Sports, our mission is to enhance the cricketing experience for fans across every platform. We are thrilled to bring the cricket extravaganza to life through our Creator Network program, joining hands with top creators and influencers to deliver an immersive experience by dialing up fan engagement, with initiatives like ‘Ask Star’and the ‘Ajab Gajab T20 Challenge’. Together with Meta, we’re redefining fan engagement and are committed to creating unforgettable money can’t buy experiences for every cricket enthusiast, uniting fans in the spirit of the game,” Vikram Passi, advertising head, Star Sports.

Partnering with groups

Meta has additionally partnered with Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders to host creator days, the place content material creators acquired an opportunity to work together and collaborate with the groups and gamers.