The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has initiated the process of finding a new front jersey sponsor for the Indian Cricket Team. Following Byju’s exit after the Australia series, the team was left without a title sponsor. BCCI has now invited tender applications from interested business houses to fill the vacant sponsorship slot. However, it is unlikely that the new deal will be finalized before the IND vs WI series, forcing the team to play without a front jersey sponsor.
Previously, Byju’s had secured the sponsorship deal for five years by paying $35 million. However, they exited the contract prematurely, leaving BCCI without a sponsor. Another setback for BCCI was when PayTM also withdrew from the sponsorship deal and transferred the rights to MasterCard. BCCI Secretary Jay Shah announced the invitation for bids, stating that the bid document can be purchased for a non-refundable fee of Rs 5 lakh. The last date for purchase is June 26. Since the West Indies series is scheduled to begin on July 12, it is unlikely that Team India will have a front jersey sponsor for the tour.
🚨 NEWS 🚨
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announces the release of Invitation to Tender for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights.
Details 🔽https://t.co/dwCU39sNFR
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2023
Shah clarified that purchasing the bid document does not automatically entitle a person to bid. Only those satisfying the eligibility criteria specified in the bid document will be eligible to submit a bid. In a recent development, BCCI secured a kit sponsorship deal with Adidas worth approximately Rs 250 Crore. Under this agreement, Adidas will pay Rs 75 lakh per match for five years. Additionally, BCCI will receive Rs 10 Crore per year as royalty on merchandising.
While the search for a new front jersey sponsor is underway, BCCI’s association with Adidas as the kit sponsor signifies a positive development for the Indian Cricket Team. However, it remains to be seen which company will step forward to become the new face of the Indian Cricket Team on their front jersey.
