Tata group confirms interest for 2020 IPL title rights

IN BCCI’S INVITE FOR EOI LAST WEEK, IT SAID ONLY COMPANIES WITH A MINIMUM TURNOVER OF ₹300 CRORE, AS PER THE LATEST AUDIT, WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO BID

MUMBAI:AFTER Vivo’s exit as title sponsors from the 2020 IPL, the Indian cricket board has received expression of interest from at least five companies to step in for the UAE edition, from September 19 to November 8.

It is learnt Tata group, Reliance Jio, Patanjali, and edu tech platforms Byjus and Unacademy have met Friday’s deadline for submitting Expression Of Interest (EOI). It could not be independently confirmed but leading fantasy gaming platform, Dream 11, could also be in the running. A Tata spokesperson confirmed “Tata group have expressed interest in IPL title rights”.

Industry experts say it is highly unlikely all those who have shown interest will submit bids on August 18, when the sponsors will be announced. “Tata group is a serious player. It may want to make the most of this rare chance when IPL is scheduled in a festive season and sponsorship is available just for a year, and at a discount,” said a source close to the development.

At the time of inviting title sponsors last week, a BCCI official had said “the discount could be as much 30-40 % of the ₹440 crore Vivo would have paid”.

Among the other prospective sponsors, Reliance Jio is already a sponsor with many franchises and a leading advertiser during IPL. Byjus is already paying big bucks as the Indian team’s jersey sponsor. Interestingly, it became known on Friday that it has dropped out as principal sponsor of Kolkata Knight Riders.

With the anti-china wave that led to Vivo stepping aside this season, an Indian company may be a perfect fit for BCCI. Patanjali and Unacademy are domestic companies that have shown interest in cricket sponsorship.

BCCI is also in negotiations to fill three associate partnership slots to try and make up for some of the financial shortfalls.