'Kiska mantra kaam aayega yeh toh...' - Star Sports' new IPL ads featuring MS Dhoni go viral on social media

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to host the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) from April 9 to May 30 with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) locking horns against defending-champions Mumbai Indians (MI) in the opening fixture. After organizing IPL 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Indian board has decided to host IPL 2021 in India across six venues namely Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata.

The tournament will be hosted in a bio-secure bubble with the teams traveling only three times during the league stage. Also, IPL 2021 will witness a total of 11 doubleheaders where 6 teams will play three-afternoon matches & two teams will play two-afternoon matches. Also, to ensure unbiasedness and eliminate the home advantage, BCCI has decided that all eight teams will play only on 4 venues out of six selected, barring their home ground.

Ahead of the marquee event, the official broadcaster of IPL, Star Sports launched two advertisements named #IndiaKaApnaMantra that are making headlines within a few minutes of their release. The hype around the ads was created by revealing the picture of MS Dhoni sporting a monk look with a bald hairstyle.

MS Dhoni features in two IPL 2021 advertisements

In the first advertisement, the former Indian captain can be seen narrating the tale of ‘Hitman’ (Rohit Sharma) winning five IPL titles. With this Dhoni teaches that being greedy is nice if it helps in winning and one needs to wait to see if Mumbai can add another title to their name.

“VIVOIPL salutes the new Indian spirit that is eager to innovate and rewrite the rulebook. Will history be created yet again this IPL? Join us in celebrating #IndiaKaApnaMantra. LIVE from Apr 9 | Broadcast starts 6 PM, Match starts 7:30 PM | Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar VIP” Star Sports tweeted.

#VIVOIPL salutes the new Indian spirit that is eager to innovate and rewrite the rulebook.

Will history be created yet again this IPL?

Join us in celebrating #IndiaKaApnaMantra.

LIVE from Apr 9 | Broadcast starts 6 PM, Match starts 7:30 PM | Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar VIP pic.twitter.com/6IcKGwy4np

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 14, 2021

The second advertisement featured MS Dhoni in a police get-up talking about the ‘Virat Khiladi’ who made anger his biggest weapon and smashed the bowlers all over the park to attain the title of the ‘King’ (Virat Kohli). It further shows MS teaching that if anger helps in conquering battles, then there is no harm in it. The clip concludes with the question about whether the King will be able to reach the crown (IPL trophy) this time.

“The new Indian spirit that innovates, redefines & achieves greatness is what #VIVOIPL is about! Whose mantra will bring success this time? Join us in celebrating #IndiaKaApnaMantra. LIVE from Apr 9 | Broadcast starts 6 PM, Match starts 7:30 PM | Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar VIP”

The new Indian spirit that innovates, redefines & achieves greatness is what #VIVOIPL is about!

Whose mantra will bring success this time?

Join us in celebrating #IndiaKaApnaMantra.

LIVE from Apr 9| Broadcast starts 6 PM, Match starts 7:30 PM | Star Sports & Disney+Hotstar VIP pic.twitter.com/XiHpNsNnjK

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) March 14, 2021

Speaking about the VIVO IPL 2021 campaign, Sanjog Gupta, Head – Sports, Star India, said

VIVO IPL 2021 is returning to Indian soil with a lot of anticipation across the country. Fans are excitedly looking forward to what promises to be a very different IPL. Our campaign ‘India Ka Apna Mantra’ reflects the resilience, determination and enterprise of the nation. We believe VIVO IPL is a platform for expression of the same ‘nothing is impossible’ spirit on the field. Hunger for success in the VIVO IPL inspires players to take risks and challenge conventional wisdom. And it is their inner belief and indomitable ‘must do’ spirit that drives their commitment. We see this as a ‘capturing the mood of a generation’ campaign – one that reflects a more confident, enterprising, entrepreneurial attitude of the country. With the campaign launch, we are geared up to engage millions of fans and offer them high-quality content clubbed with innovative and immersive experiences.