IPL 2025: de Villiers, Williamson, Shastri, Gavaskar headline star-studded commentary panel

Fans and viewers are in for a treat as JioStar assembles the biggest IPL ever. Less than 24 hours before India’s favourite sporting carnival turns 18, JioStar announces the never-seen-before presentation with 25-plus feeds in 12 languages across linear TV and digital, brought alive by more than 170 experts that includes IPL champions, World Cup winners from India and across the world.

On TV, in addition to the English feed, the network will provide coverage in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada across JioStar Network, while on digital, the 18th season will be streamed live across 16 feeds, including 12 languages: English, Hindi, Marathi, Haryanvi, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati and Punjabi. 

In addition to the language options, the live streaming on JioHotstar will be complemented by multi-cam feeds, Hangout feed, first-of-its kind feed designed for young audiences and family called ‘Motu Patlu present Super Funday’.

“What we have assembled for the IPL 2025 is nothing less than a spectacle. It is the 18^th season, a milestone that deserves a celebration garnished by first-of-its kind innovations, top-of-the-line talent and a presentation that will unite millions of Indians. Our efforts will match the energy and excitement that the league brings to the country,” said JioStar – Sports Spokesperson.

In a never-seen-before avatar, one of the world’s most accomplished batsmen and most loved global figure, Kane Williamson will make his debut as a commentator and expert in IPL. The first New Zealand player to win the orange cap and two-time IPL champion played with Gujarat Titans until last season.

The addition of IPL champion Shane Watson, former Mumbai Indians Head Coach Mark Boucher and his compatriot and Royal Challengers Bengaluru icon AB de Villiers, former Punjab Kings mentor Virender Sehwag, former Punjab Kings skipper Shikhar Dhawan, former Chennai Super Kings star Suresh Raina, will further deepen JioStar’s key proposition of providing fans inside access from key members who until recently shared the dressing room with top franchisees.

After winning titles with Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings, Shane Watson continues his journey in the IPL with JioStar. The line-up also includes former IPL captains and heroes including Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Robin Uthappa, Murali Vijay, Kedar Jadhav across multiple language feeds. Father-son duo of Anirudh Srikkanth and K Srikkanth will feature together in the Tamil expert’s panel. Manvinder Bisla, man of the match of the 2012 IPL Final, will be the face of the Haryanvi feed.

In the continuous endeavour to give fans and viewers immersive experience, JioStar is creating a touchpoint for second screen-engagement. While watching the action live on Linear TV, if viewers miss out on key moments, they will get an option to scan a QR code and catch the key moment on their mobile phone on JioHotstar.

Making the viewing experience inclusive and ensuring fans and viewers can enjoy the cricket carnival in their own way, MaxView, Live Audio Descriptive and Indian Sign Language will make their IPL debut on JioHotstar. Multi-cam feed will continue to give viewers on JioHotstar options to watch IPL from different angles with fan-favourite Hero Cam coming back along with Stump Cam, Batter Cam, and Bird’s Eye Cam among others.

The 18^th season of IPL will see the return of digital-exclusive and popular Hangout feed, and newly-introduced ‘Motu Patlu present Super Funday’. The special kids’ feed will feature the beloved cartoon characters Motu and Patlu as commentators, bringing a fresh, playful, and exciting twist to the IPL experience. 

The Hangout feed will give fans a light-hearted and quirky take on the perennially competitive league through new-age content creators and popular stand-up comics like Angad Singh, Kunal Saluja, Sahiba Bali, Inder Sahni, Shubham Shandilya, and Aditya Kulshreshta among others. This feed will present quintessential IPL action that is expected to draw first-time viewers and non-sports audience and augment the league’s viewership.

Through the 18th season, JioStar will put together an exciting slate of content for fans around IPL icons and captains including MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins among others.

IPL 2025 Panel