BCCI to name kit sponsor for Australia tour, 3-year deal signed at lesser value than Nike?

Men in Blue are all set to embark on a tour Down Under next month for India vs Australia 2020 series, which will mark return of international cricket for Virat Kohli and his men. Team India last played international cricket against South Africa in March, with series postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic. pandemic has seen massive financial implications due to lack of fans and sporting action, which has me  Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) bear brunt of it. 

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India vs Australia 2020: BCCI finds kit sponsor at 'reduced value' after Covid-19 pandemic 

According to a report by Hindustan Times,  Sourav Ganguly-led board has finally signed a contract for a new kit sponsor ahe of team's tour to Australia. Former kit sponsor Nike h earlier requested BCCI to extend its current contract at a reduced rate. board subsequently refused and Nike decided against renewing ir contract despite ir 14-year association with team. BCCI subsequently floated a tender, but received responses despite reports of interest from sportswear giants Puma and idas. 

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A source told Hindustan Times that anuncement of new three-year kit sponsorship deal will be done soon. Men in Blue are expected to board a flight to Australia on vember 12, so one can expect an official anuncement before y travel Down Under. new contract will also see a reduction in values, in comparison to previous contract with Nike.

BCCI h set a base price of ₹65 lakh per match, a 25 per cent decrease from previous deal. new contract also includes a royalty fee fo ₹24 crore as merchandising rights. Nike deal saw BCCI bag ₹87 lakh per match, while  royalty was set at ₹30 crore.

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Speaking to ANI, an apex council member confirmed that new deal was signed with MPL. MPL alrey has ties with Team India skipper Virat Kohli, having signed him as ir brand ambassor last year. KL Rahul is also one of ambassors of mobile e-Sports platform. MPL is also one of many sponsors in Dream11 IPL 2020, and new deal with BCCI will mark ir first major international cricket venture. 

Team India will begin ir tour Down Under, with a three-match ODI series, followed by a three-match T20I showdown and n  much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy. series is scheduled to start on vember 27, and will mark Men in Blue's first forays into international cricket after COVID-19 lockdown. 

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(Im Courtesy: Team India Instagram)