Micromax bags BCCI title sponsorship rights for 2014/15 home season

Micromax will be the new title sponsor for Team India’s matches during the 2014/15 season.

Micromax Informatics Limited has bagged the title sponsorship rights for all the international matches involving India at home during the 2014/15 season for an approximate fee of Rs 18 crore, which would be Rs. 20.02 million per match. India are scheduled to play West Indies in the specified duration – 5 ODIs, 1 T20 international and 3 Tests, and the sponsorship extends to all the major domestic tournaments including Ranji Trophy, as well.

“The BCCI welcomes Micromax Informatics Ltd. as a partner for the 2014-15 season. The forthcoming series between India and the West Indies will feature some exciting cricket. There will be plenty of action in the domestic competitions as well. We have no doubt that it will be a fruitful association,” BCCI secretary Sanjay Patel said.

Micromax, the only bidders for the rights, were disclosed as winners in Mumbai on Thursday. It can be noted that Star India were the sole bidders last season, despite it including the Sachin Tendulkar farewell series, also against the Caribbean side. Micromax pulled out of the bidding last time around after showing interest, allowing Star to run away with the rights for 2013-14 at the base price.

Patel, hoping that the next bidding process will be a high profile one, attributed the dip in interest in the market, of late, to the lack of matches during the sponsorship period.

"By the time the next tender would be floated, market conditions would have improved. Besides, the new FTP cycle would have started and we will be better placed to evaluate the situation," said Patil.