BCCI is under no pressure to drop IPL sponsors with links to China, say officials

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not concerned with calls to drop sponsors with Chinese investments, including team India's jersey sponsor Byju's and IPL's official partners Dream11 and Paytm, said two senior board officials on conditions of anonymity.

Paytm is also the title sponsor for all home matches of Indian cricket team and one of the central sponsors (official umpire partner) of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

A board official told ET that while there were concerns regarding Vivo, there is "no pressure" on the board to drop Indian companies with Chinese investments.


"We are here for the growth of Indian cricket and not to make a political statement. All of these companies, Paytm, Dream11, Byju's and even Swiggy, all have been incorporated in India, owned by Indians and a majority of employees are Indians. It is unfair for anyone to consider them Chinese," a senior board official said. "We are busy trying to host another successful season of IPL. That's our single point focus currently."

While BCCI has still to get a corporate sponsor for IPL 2020, it also is in the midst of completing formalities with the team owners even as the 13th edition of the league is scheduled to kick off in 40 days in the UAE.

Last week, Vivo and the BCCI mutually decided to "pause" their five-year sponsorship agreement in the wake of an upsurge of anti-Chinese investment in India after the mid-June border clashes between the two countries. The BCCI has come out with an expression of interest (EoI), seeking bids from prospective sponsors by August 18.

The IPL stakeholders are closely watching the developments at BCCI.

If companies with Chinese connections are made to sit it out, it will put severe strain on the financial viability of the IPL and also its various stakeholders.

IPL media rights holder Star India had won the rights for five years for an astronomical price of ₹16,347.5 crore, which was based on the broadcaster's ability to monetise by way of advertising and distribution.