Micromax wins BCCI title sponsorship rights

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has awarded the title sponsorship rights for matches in the 2014-15 season to mobile handset brand Micromax for Rs 2.2 crore per match. This was confirmed by BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel.

The matches include all international ones played by India in the country, beginning with the West Indies’ tour of India in October-November. Micromax was the only bidder for the title sponsorship. The bid was only Rs 20,000 more than the base price in the document inviting bids. In October 2013, incumbent sponsor STAR had picked up the rights at a base price of Rs 2 crore.

Patel said, “Given the economic conditions and the fact that the sponsorship rights period is short, we are happy to have Micromax on board. Once we sign on the dotted line for the series fixtures for the 2016-21 period, we will release ITTs (invitations to tender) for a longer duration.”

He added at that time, BCCI would be in a position to demand a premium on sponsorships. It would also consider raising the base price, sources say. Before STAR bagged the rights in October 2013, sponsorship fees stood at Rs 3.93 crore a match, which Airtel had paid BCCI. STAR India had won the title sponsorship rights for all international cricket matches to be held in India, agreeing to pay Rs 2 crore a match, 39 per cent lower than what Bharti Airtel had spent on the rights the previous year.

The title sponsorship also extends to domestic series, including the Irani Cup, the Duleep Trophy, the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, the Deodhar Trophy and the Raj Singh Dungarpur Trophy.