This year’s April Fools’ Day had India in stitches, with media houses, brands, and even cricket legends joining the fun with some seriously hilarious pranks.
The Times of India kicked off the madness with a fake announcement that the IPL final would be hosted in Antarctica, promising ice sculptures of cricketers and snow-covered stadiums. Meanwhile, NDTV had everyone worried with their ‘breaking news’ that the Indian government would ban selfies in public places for ‘national security reasons.’
But the pranks didn’t stop there! India Today unveiled India’s first robot Prime Minister, claiming it could run the country without flaw, something that would certainly make even the most seasoned politicians nervous. On the cricket front, MS Dhoni was said to have announced his retirement from all forms of cricket in a dramatic press conference, leaving fans momentarily speechless and many media houses too were confused, only to realise it was a prank.
Not to be outdone Deccan Chronicle ran a story wherein Virat Kohli was falsely linked with a Big Bash League contract, with reports suggesting he’d signed up for the Sydney Sixers. Fans were torn between excitement and confusion before realizing it was all in good humor.
The Hindu played with the country’s love for cricket, claiming that a floating cricket stadium would soon be built on the Ganges River, while Zomato joined in by introducing a “new service” to deliver oxygen. In the tech world, Google India teased the launch of their “Multi-Sense Glasses”, designed to sense your mood and adjust your surroundings…because why not? Not to be left behind, Flipkart made a splash by announcing their new drone delivery service that would sing while flying.
It is safe to say, India got pranked hard this April Fools’ Day
