IPL’s Knight Riders secure new principal sponsor for title defence

Reigning Indian Premier League champion the Kolkata Knight Riders has struck a deal for Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Gionee to replace rival Nokia as the team’s principal sponsor in the Twenty20 cricket competition.

The deal will run for three years, from 2015 until 2017. Under the agreement, the Gionee logo will appear on the front of players’ jerseys and training kit. According to The Hindu newspaper, the deal is worth R540m (€8m/$8.7m) over three years.

Meanwhile, the Knight Riders have also signed a one-year extension to their sponsorship deal with Japanese electronics company Sansui for the 2015 season. Sansui will continue to benefit from branding placement on the back of players’ jerseys.

In addition, Indian direct-to-home television operator Dish TV has extended its partnership with the team for the 2015 campaign. Under the deal, Dish TV will continue to receive branding placement on the non-lead arm of players’ jerseys.

The Knight Riders head into the 2015 IPL boosted by the news that they will have Sunil Narine available. The West Indies spinner (pictured) has been under investigation for an alleged suspect bowling action, but has been cleared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.