Mumbai: ZEE5 has launched Cricket Darbar, an original Hindi weekly show streaming as part of its Free5 offering. The new show combines cricket discussions with comedy, satire, and fan culture through a royal court-themed format led by former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan.
Free5 on ZEE5 brings together a range of free content including TV shows, movies, K-dramas, web series, news, and kids’ programming. Cricket Darbar premiered on May 6 and will follow a weekly release schedule throughout the ongoing cricket season.
Produced by The Lallantop, the show transforms weekly cricket conversations into a dramatic “Darbar” format where major cricketing moments, controversies, and fan reactions are debated and judged. Shikhar Dhawan takes on the role of the “Maharaj,” while popular influencer RJ Kisna adds humour and fan commentary to the episodes. Actor Adah Sharma appeared as the first special guest on the show.
Blending humour, insight, and debate, the format aims to offer an engaging take on cricket discussions by combining expert perspectives with fan-driven reactions. Each episode revolves around key talking points from the week’s matches and culminates in a final verdict delivered by the Maharaj.
Commenting on the launch, Siju Prabhakaran, Chief Business Officer, ZEE5 said, “Our collaboration with The Lallantop for Cricket Darbar brings together a unique content sensibility and a strong pulse on fan sentiment to create a distinctive weekly cricket property for audiences across the country. Led by Shikhar Dhawan, the show reimagines cricket conversations through a royal court that debates, decodes, and celebrates the season’s defining moments. With Cricket Darbar, we continue to build fresh, culturally resonant formats that deepen audience engagement across genres, formats, and languages.”
Kartik Mahadev, Chief Marketing Officer, ZEE said, “Cricket fandom today speaks a language of its own, shaped by memes, banter, and real-time reactions that bring fans closer to the game and to each other. ZEE5 has always believed in connecting with audiences in their language, and Cricket Darbar with Shikhar Dhawan, brings that idea to life. Here the fan’s instinct meets expert perspective, and the week’s biggest moments turn into conversations everyone can be part of. It’s a format built around how audiences engage with cricket today, more participative, more current, and rooted in storytelling.”
Shikhar Dhawan, Maharaja of Cricket Darbar, said, “Cricket has always been more than just a sport in our country; it is emotion, debate, celebration, and endless conversation. Cricket Darbar captures exactly that spirit but in a format that feels fresh and entertaining. What I loved about the show is that it brings together strong opinions, humour, and the fan’s point of view, making every week’s cricket action even more engaging.”
The show is positioned as a topical, fan-first format aimed at capturing the pulse of contemporary cricket fandom through a mix of analysis, entertainment, and cultural commentary.
