BCCI confirms MPL as Indian cricket team's new kit sponsor ahead of Australia tour

Athleisure wear and sports merchandise brand MPL Sports from Mobile Premier League has been anunced as new kit sponsors of Indian cricket team. news of BCCI's association with MPL Sports was confirmed by board on Tuesday through a media advisory. Besides being sponsors, MPL Sports is also  official merchandise partner for Indian Cricket Team.

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MPL Sports becomes Indian Cricket Team's kit sponsors for three-years

As per fresh contract, MPL Sports has entered into a three-year agreement with BCCI starting from vember 2020 to December 2023. MPL Sports’ association with BCCI begins with upcoming India vs Australia 2020 tour, which will see Indian players donning new jerseys. According to a recent report by ANI,  three-year deal is worth ₹120 crore. Moreover, women's team, as well as,  Under-19 teams are a part of deal for new kits. 

Besides Team India jerseys, MPL Sports will also sell licensed Team India merchandise where y will offer jerseys and its wide range of Team India merchandise to fans at reasonable prices. Reportedly,  BCCI will also get revenue share - 10 per cent of every jersey or merchandise sold by MPL. 

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Speaking about partnership with MPL Sports, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly said that y are delighted to anunce dawn of a new era for Indian cricket with appointment of MPL Sports as kit sponsor for Indian men’s and women’s national cricket team until 2023. Sourav Ganguly added that BCCI looks forward to MPL Sports adding a new chapter to team’s kit, and bring official BCCI licensed merchandise within easy and convenient reach for billion-plus fans who cheer for Team India.

Senior Vice-President of Growth and Marketing at MPL and MPL Sports, Abhishek Madhavan said that India is a market with a billion cricket fans and y see a lot of potential in underpenetrated merchandise market in India.  Madhavan stated that y hope to partner closely with BCCI and take all kinds of team India merchandise to masses with offline as well as online distribution at affordable prices. He reckoned that associating with Indian national cricket team is a matter of huge pride for m and y want every fan in country to feel same way and have access to merchandise y can proudly flaunt.

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BCCI's deal with previous sponsors Nike came to an end on September 30 after which sportswear giants decided t to extend its sponsorship deal. After BCCI-Nike deal expired, board failed to attract bids due to uncertainty of international cricket calendar owing to COVID-19 pandemic. Considering same, BCCI had made a provision for a n-apparel manufacturer to bid for jersey rights.

Nike recently underwent a major overhaul as it anunced a senior leadership reshuffle. Nike had anunced that y were expecting a net loss of jobs across company and a large number of new executive appointments as part of its latest restructuring exercise amidst coronavirus pandemic. Moreover, plunging sales worldwide severely impacted Nike’s relationship with Indian Cricket Team. Nike was Indian cricket's kit partner for last 14 years. 

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SOURCE: BCCI & MPL TWITTER