Mumbai: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) roped in MPL Sports, an e-sports platform as the new kit sponsor and official merchandise partner of Team India replacing Nike on Tuesday (November 17).
MPL Sports is the sports goods brand from Mobile Premier League, offers a wide range of sportswear and cricket equipment, along with other accessories such as masks, wrist bands, footwear and headgear.
The three-year deal between BCCI and MPL Sports is from November 2020 to December 2023, starting with India’s upcoming tour of Australia. As per the new deal, men’s, women’s and the U-19 Indian cricket teams will be sporting MPL Sports designed and manufactured jerseys.
Earlier, the BCCI put in a bid for team kit sponsor and official merchandising partner rights through a tender-hearted process after Nike’s four-year deal came to an end in September of this year.
“The partnership leads us to a new frontier for Team India and for sports merchandising in the country. We look forward to working with a young Indian brand like MPL Sports to tap the potential that this sphere holds. This partnership aims at facilitating access to high-quality Indian cricket fan merchandise, including the coveted Indian cricket team jersey for cricket fans not just in the country but globally,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah said.
“We are delighted to announce the dawn of a new era for Indian cricket with the appointment of MPL Sports as the kit sponsor for the Indian men’s and women’s national cricket team until 2023. We look forward to MPL Sports adding a new chapter to the team’s kit, and bring Official BCCI licensed merchandise within easy and convenient reach for the billion-plus fans who cheer for Team India,” BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly said.
The first ODI between India and Australia will be held on November 27 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. MPL is also associated with IPL franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
