The Board of Control for Cricket in India has said Chinese mobile telecommunications firm Vivo Mobile will become the new title sponsor of Twenty20 competition the Indian Premier League, while US sportswear giant Nike has extended its contract as the official apparel partner of the Indian national team.
The agreements were announced yesterday (Sunday) as the BCCI Working Committee met in Mumbai. The Indian division of Vivo Mobile will replace US multinational food and beverage corporation PepsiCo as the title sponsor of the IPL after reports over the status of the latter firm’s partnership with the league emerged earlier this month.
PepsiCo secured the title sponsorship rights to the IPL in November 2012 under a five-year deal covering the 2013 to 2017 seasons worth $72.5m (€64.5m). However, the company was said to be seeking to end its deal early in the wake of the ongoing controversy surrounding the IPL’s 2013 spot-fixing scandal.
A panel established by India’s Supreme Court in July recommended the suspension of leading IPL franchises the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals for a period of two years – a verdict that was upheld by the BCCI Working Committee yesterday.
The ESPN Cricinfo website said PepsiCo held the right to transfer its title sponsorship rights. Vivo will now assume the final two years of the contract, covering the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons, on the same financial terms as that agreed by PepsiCo. The BCCI said in a statement: “The IPL title sponsorship right has been assigned to M/S Vivo Mobiles. Vivo is to give the bank guarantee in next 10 days.”
Vipul Prakash, vice-president of beverages for PepsiCo India, said in a statement reported by the Live Mint website: “The BCCI and PepsiCo have had a longstanding and cordial relationship. Post our discussions, it has been mutually agreed that PepsiCo will be assigning its title rights of the IPL to Vivo Mobile India.
“PepsiCo has been associated with cricket in India for the last 25 years and we immensely value its contributions to the success of our brands. We will continue to associate with sports and cricket as a platform to connect with our consumers.”
The BCCI confirmed the extension of its contract with Nike in a one-line statement. Terms were not disclosed.