MAM
Rajasthan Royals looks at local handicraft to boost merchandising activities
MUMBAI: At a time when the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises rely on normal things like T-shirts, caps, books for licensing and merchandising Rajasthan Royals have taken a different stance.
It will use Rajasthan handicrafts to create a touch-point with its fan base. It has done a deal with Indiehaat Ventures, an organisation that aims at revitalising and redeeming the Indian handicrafts industry for domestic and global audiences. The partnership seeks to champion the cause of the rich arts, craft and workmanship of the Rajasthani people that the IPL franchise notes remains unexplored and unseen in India.
The franchise adds that its aim has always been to epitomise the elegance, style, valour, and reflected the rich tradition and history of the region. Through the partnership, Indiehaat becomes the team‘s official ‘handmade merchandising partner‘. Rajasthani artisans will be provided with a commercial platform.
In the coming weeks, the team will launch a line called ‘The Royal Collection‘ in handmade and ethnic Rajasthani goods. This will form the core of its new merchandising line for the current season and also for the year ahead. The collection will represent the handiwork of the state‘s artisans in Kantha, embroidery, Kilim as upholstery on furniture, patchwork and Sanganeri prints.
The line will be launched with 25 designs in ethnic Rajasthani furniture and 25 designs in accessories such as bags, cushions, laptop covers, sleeves and stoles. New elements will be added every fortnight.
Rajasthan Royals CEO Raghu Iyer said that the aim to encourage and promote the talent that Rajasthani people have in the area of arts and crafts. “The endeavour is new and different, and we trust it will provide a much-needed platform to local artisans in Rajasthan. It will also add to the exciting inventory of merchandise we offer fans.”
Indiehaat Ventures director and partner Shailendra Singh said, “Indiehaat takes great pride in partnering with a team like Rajasthan Royals. As a cricketing franchisee, the team has always encouraged new talent and supported a number of significant causes in Rajasthan, their home state. We are confident that the venture will be very well received and mark the beginning of a great new interface between artisans and fans.”
The line will be made available on stock and made-to-order basis through www.thechorbazar.com. The websites has started accepting orders. The joint venture also plans to vend through exclusive stores throughout India.
The Rajasthani handicrafts industry currently export goods worth more than $600 million from the state and employs 0.6 million artisans directly or indirectly.
Rajasthan Royals opening batsman Ajinkya Rahane said, “From nurturing school level cricketers to giving talented young players a chance to show case their skills in the league, Rajasthan Royals is a team that is known to support significant causes and provide new opportunities to people. As a player, I feel proud to see us moving into a unique area of business, which will help promote the incredible talent that Rajasthani people have in the area of arts and crafts.”
Brands
Wipro hires 7,500 freshers, withholds FY27 hiring outlook
Profit rises to Rs 3,522 crore, Rs 15,000 crore buyback announced.
MUMBAI- Hiring may be on, but visibility is off, Wipro is adding talent even as it pauses the crystal ball. The company hired 7,500 freshers in FY26 but stopped short of offering any hiring outlook for FY27, underscoring the uncertainty gripping the IT services sector as it pivots towards an AI-led operating model.
The disclosure came alongside its fourth-quarter earnings, where management flagged volatile demand conditions and refrained from committing to future workforce expansion. Chief human resources officer Saurabh Govil noted that over 3,000 of the total hires were onboarded in the March quarter alone, signalling continued intake despite a lack of clarity on deployment pipelines.
This divergence active hiring without forward guidance reflects a broader industry pattern where talent acquisition continues even as deal conversions remain uneven and client spending cycles stretch. Wipro expects its IT services revenue for the June quarter to range between a decline of 2 per cent and flat growth sequentially in constant currency terms, reinforcing near-term caution.
Chief executive officer Srini Pallia pointed to artificial intelligence as both a disruptor and an opportunity. He said evolving client priorities are pushing the company towards outcome-driven engagements, with Wipro increasingly focusing on a services-as-software model through its AI Native Business and Platforms unit. The shift marks a structural change from traditional headcount-led growth to AI-enabled delivery frameworks.
The company has already committed over $1 billion to its AI ecosystem, with investors closely watching how these investments translate into revenue. For now, the numbers present a mixed picture. Net profit rose sequentially to Rs 3,522 crore, while revenue grew 3 per cent to Rs 24,236 crore. However, core IT services performance remained under pressure, with full-year revenue declining 0.3 per cent in dollar terms and 1.6 per cent in constant currency.
Large deal bookings offered a counterpoint, rising 45.4 per cent year-on-year to $7.8 billion, highlighting a widening gap between deal wins and actual revenue realisation. On a quarterly basis, IT services revenue slipped 1.2 per cent sequentially, signalling continued softness in execution.
Margins, however, told a more optimistic story. Operating margins expanded to 17.3 per cent in the fourth quarter, up from 14.8 per cent in the previous quarter, reflecting improved cost discipline. That said, the company cautioned that upcoming wage hikes and the ramp-up of large deals could exert pressure going forward.
Attrition stood at 13.8 per cent in the March quarter, indicating stabilisation after periods of elevated churn. Alongside its earnings, Wipro also announced a Rs 15,000 crore share buyback, reinforcing its focus on shareholder returns, with a payout ratio of 88 per cent over the past three years.
Taken together, the numbers capture a company in transition investing in AI, maintaining hiring momentum, but navigating a demand environment where growth is uneven and visibility remains limited.
