Cement manufacturer Dura has agreed a shirt sponsorship deal with Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket team Royal Challengers Bangalore.
The deal will at least cover the 2018 IPL season, which gets underway on April 4.
Dura’s branding will appear on the back of RCB’s shirts, in the space that used to be occupied by Indian beer brand Kingfisher. It will mark the first time in a decade that Kingfisher has not sponsored the team’s kit.
The InsideSport website, citing sources close to RCB, added that the club is seeking Rs20 crore (€2.5m/$3.1m) from a new title sponsor for the 2018 season. “This (Rs20 crore) is a very, very realistic price for an IPL team jersey,” the source said.
“RCB offers to its sponsors much more than most of the other franchises. Brands are realising what it means to have their logo on, say, a Virat Kohli jersey. Overall too there is a certain appreciation in the IPL property values.”
Smartphone device manufacturer Gionee was the team’s main shirt sponsor last year.