Mumbai: Taking a step further with its Cricket properties, Star Sports presents a brand-new gladiatorial Cricket series ‘Ultimate Kricket Challenge (UKC)’. Introducing a new format of the sport, UKC is set to captivate the minds and hearts of every Cricket fan, like no other format. The unique star-studded event, that gets underway from December 24th, 2020, shortens the game into 4 innings of 15 balls each, where each UKC gladiator will go head-to-head against every other, increasing the stakes even higher, for the right to be crowned the best in the world.
The first exhilarating season of UKC will see six global superstars who will be UKC contenders – Yuvraj Singh, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, Rashid Khan, Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell. They go head-to-head against each other, every day at 9:30 PM on the Star Sports Network from 24th December to 1st January, with some surprise appearances from other global superstars.
The first of its kind, this 16-match tournament will see the introduction of new Cricket rules in a new one-on-one Cricket match format. Each match will consist of 2 UKC contenders squaring off against each other across 4 innings of 15-ballseach in every match.
Speaking exclusively to Star Sports ahead of the first-ever Ultimate Kricket Challenge (UKC), former Team India all-rounder and UKC contender Yuvraj Singh said, “Cricket has been at the heart of every Indian fan and, but it needs to constantly evolve, constantly excite. UKC is that evolution. This brand-new format is wonderful. It’s what Cricket it about. Player versus player. No distractions. One on one. It’s exciting and it’s the future of Cricket that I know will strike a chord with viewers and fans. I am up for this challenge to be the best in the world and hope to emulate my 2007 T20 World Cup feat of six consecutive sixes in the UKC as well. Hoping for a greatshow in Dubai and to beat all the others.”
Speaking exclusively to Star Sports ahead of the Ultimate Kricket Challenge (UKC), Afghanistan’s star leg-spinner and UKC contender Rashid Khan said, “As a professional Cricketer, I will always endorse a format that elevates the game, excites ardent fans and creates millions of new ones. Cricket and winning Cricket matches has always been an integral part of my life and I will always be up for the challenge.This new format – UKC – is incredibly exciting and the way of the future of Cricket and I can’t wait to put on a good show.”
“Ultimate Kricket Challenge is an iconic revolutionary step forward in the world of cricket. Ultimate aspect here means there is no escape. The best players will fight with simple quest to not lose to the other. It is one on one! One will win and the other will lose! No player who considers himself or herself the best would want to lose to the other in a direct duel. It so phenomenally differentiated from all other formats in play thus far. We sincerely believe that UKC will go on to become one of the most recognisable sports leagues in the world.”, said Ravi Thakran, Chairman of UKC.
Watch the promo of the unique format:
Six global superstars – @YUVSTRONG12, @KP24, @henrygayle, @Eoin16, @Russell12A & @rashidkhan_19 pad-up for this one-of-a-kind #UltimateKricketChallenge that reinvents Cricket in a gladiatorial style!@UltimateKricket starts 24th Dec on the Star Sports network and Disney+Hotstar pic.twitter.com/tOLgV5scHv
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 15, 2020
Watch the first season of the Ultimate Kricket Challenge (UKC) from 24th December 2020 to 1st January 2021, every day exclusively on the Star Sports and Disney+ Hotstar at 9:30 PM
