ZEE releases DP World ILT20 cricket anthem along with 7 BantaiZ

 Fuelled by the electrifying atmosphere and extraordinary performances of international players at DP World ILT20 Season 2, ZEE Entertainment, released a gripping and pulsating anthem song in collaboration with popular rap group, 7Bantai'Z.

The rap track for DP World ILT20 captures the high-octane action ongoing in three destinations in UAE. 7Bantai'Z’s collaboration with the channel brings in the zing of the new-gen spirit with the rap composition, injecting youthful energy with lyrics such as:

‘Balle se bolenge,

barriers todenge,

saal ka pehla yeh challenge,

koi kasar nahi chhodenge’.

The rap song's captivating lyrics pay homage to these six franchise teams and their iconic cricket stars, weaving a narrative that resonates with cricket enthusiasts of all ages. Cricketing icons such as Trent Boult, Alex Hales, David Warner, Dushmantha Chameera, Sam Billings, among others, are celebrated in the cricket anthem, capturing the essence of competition, rivalry, fans passion. With its high-octane beats and energetic vocals, the song has potential to go viral and become an instant favourite among cricket aficionados.

7Bantai'Z shared their enthusiasm about creating the rap song for ZEE, adding, “Our experience in creating a rap song for a sport has been an absolute blast.  Being die-hard cricket fans just like any other Indian, blending our love for the sport with music was incredibly exciting. Our aim was to bottle up all the energy and buzz of DP World ILT20 in every beat and verse of the song, and we think we nailed it!"

The tournament has achieved a remarkable viewership of 161-million viewership in its first 18 matches since debuting on January 19, 2024. 7Bantai’Z’s cricket rap chant celebrates this achievement as well as its position as the second-most watched league globally. It also captures the determination of marquee T20 cricketing talent to succeed in one of the toughest cricket leagues, leaving no stone unturned as echoed in the lyrics - ‘koi kasar nahi chhodenge’. This not only captures the spirit of premier leagues as one of the largest reality shows in sports and entertainment, but also celebrates the spirit of cricket and fervour of its fans across the globe.

The franchise-style tournament of DP World ILT20, featuring six teams and 34 matches, is underway in the UAE. The league’s six franchise teams include Abu Dhabi Knight Riders (Kolkata Knight Riders), Desert Vipers (Lancer Capital), Dubai Capitals (GMR), Gulf Giants (Adani Sportsline), MI Emirates (Reliance Industries), and Sharjah Warriors (Capri Global). The ongoing season of the tournament boasts of participation of the world’s most prominent cricket stars such as David Warner, Dasun Shanaka, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sam Billings, David Willey, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Alex Hales, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, James Vince, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Dwayne Bravo, Trent Boult, Chris Woakes and Martin Guptill.

Cricket fans can watch DP World ILT20 on Zee’s most widely distributed and viewed 10 linear TV channels: &Pictures, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema, Zee Zest, Zee Ganga, Zee Cinemalu HD, &Flix, &Flix HD and Zee Zest HD and leading OTT platform ZEE5. All single header matches will be broadcast live at 8 pm during India’s prime time. The afternoon match on double-header days will start at 4 pm.

(*Source: BARC: 2+, India U+R, [Including TV+OOH, LIVE+ Pre+Mid+Post]