MUMBAI: ‘Ultimate Kricket Challenge’, a new cricket series featuring current and former cricketers is set to premier from 24th December to 1st January on the Star Sports network.
The marketing-led event shortens the game into 4 innings of 15 balls each, where each UKC “gladiator” will go head-to-head against every other.
Yuvraj Singh, Eoin Morgan, Andre Russell, Chris Gayle, Kevin Pietersen, and Rashid Khan will be seen in a new “gladiatorial” cricket series – Ultimate Kricket Challenge (UKC).
The first season of UKC will see six UKC contenders going head-to-head against each other, every day at 9:30 PM on the Star Sports Network from December 24 to January 1, with some surprise appearances from other cricketers.
In an official release issued by Star India, Yuvraj said: “Cricket has been at the heart of every Indian fan and, but it needs to constantly evolve, constantly excite. UKC is that evolution.”
The 16-game 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 balls each in every match.
2 points are awarded for a UKC contender winning a match in the league stage and the UKC contender with more runs at the end of each match is the winner. The top 4 UKC contenders from the league rounds enter the semi-finals, which are knock-out matches.
A UKC Contender while batting can gain runs only after they complete a physical run. The scoring is divided into 6 scoring zones: Zone A – 1 run, Zone B- 1 run, Zone C – 2 runs, Zone D – 3 runs, Zone E – with a bounce 4 runs, Zone E- direct 6 runs.
However, if a batter who hits the bullseye (behind the bowler) scores 12 runs and gains an extra ball to play. Bullseye on the square of wickets will get the batter 4 runs. Every time a batter gets out, 5 runs are deducted from the total.
Star Sports will broadcast the UKC in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
