Brands
Puma returns to IPL pitch, inks multi-year partnership with RCB
MUMBAI: After seven years, global sports brand Puma has made a comeback on the Indian Premier League pitch after signing a strategic long-term partnership with Royal Challengers Bangalore. Under the terms of the deal, Puma will be the official kit partner of the team from the upcoming IPL 2021 season. The sportswear major already has an ongoing association with RCB team captain Virat Kohli, which makes this partnership a natural progression for the brand.
Kohli said, “A global brand with a strong sporting vision and great quality products, [Puma’s] extensive distribution network through offline and online channels will ensure fans have access to RCB merchandise across the country. Over the years, I've had a great experience working with the brand and I’m excited to see Puma extend its partnership with the team that I play for.”
The brand will have exclusive retailing rights to RCB’s take down and replica jerseys, adding pan-India merchandise reach for the franchise across retail and e-commerce channels. Elevating the partnership beyond a traditional sports sponsorship model, the collection will also include a fanwear range of polo tees, shorts, pants, flipflops and caps.
Puma India & southeast Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly said, “The team’s growing fan base and extensive social following makes RCB our ideal partner on the cricket pitch. Over the last few months, sport has had a positive influence by bringing about a sense of cheer among our consumers. With more people playing and following their favourite game, the culture of sport will definitely strengthen and evolve further. We are committed to fuelling this passion by continuing to invest in the right products, partners and players in the sporting ecosystem.”
Royal Challengers Bangalore vice president & head Rajesh V Menon said, “RCB’s ethos is to embody the philosophy of #PlayBold and truly embrace the challenger spirit in all that we do as a cricket team, a brand and business. We are positive that with Puma’s marketing capabilities, fans will have access to not only great merchandise but also some very interesting activations and engagements through the IPL season and beyond.”
RCB merchandise will be available at all Puma stores, on Puma.com RCB website, mobile app and the RCB Bar & Café from the first week of April.
Brands
65 per cent women start credit early, 76 per cent show confidence: mPokket survey
mPokket survey highlights rising financial independence and purposeful borrowing
NEW DELHI: A quiet financial shift is underway across India, and women are at the centre of it. A new survey by mPokket suggests that young Indian women are entering the credit system earlier, with greater confidence and a sharper sense of purpose than ever before.
Based on responses from 10,000 women across the country, the study finds that more than 65 per cent took their first loan before turning 30. Far from hesitation, confidence appears to be the norm, with nearly 76 per cent saying they felt assured when taking that first step into formal borrowing.
The findings point to more than just access. They reflect a broader shift in financial independence. Nearly 79 per cent of respondents believe women today are more financially empowered than the previous generation, a view supported by rising workforce participation and easier access to digital finance tools.
What stands out is the diversity of borrowers. While 48.6 per cent of respondents are salaried, close to 40 per cent are self-employed, running small businesses or working independently. This signals that credit is no longer limited to traditional employment structures but is reaching India’s expanding micro-economy, including gig workers and entrepreneurs.
The intent behind borrowing also tells a story. For 41.6 per cent, loans are a safety net for emergencies. Another 20.8 per cent use credit to support their families, while 15.7 per cent borrow for education or skill development. In short, borrowing is less about impulse and more about planning.
Financial discipline is keeping pace. Around 40 per cent of respondents report saving monthly, 28.4 per cent use autopay to manage EMIs, and over a quarter maintain a monthly budget. For many, financial health is defined not by wealth, but by reliability, with 45.7 per cent ranking timely EMI payments as their top priority.
The survey largely captures women under the age of 29, a group entering formal credit systems for the first time. Their habits, the report suggests, could shape how India approaches borrowing in the years ahead.
Commenting on the findings, mPokket CEO and founder Gaurav Jalan said the shift is structural rather than temporary. “It is not just about borrowing, it is about agency. Women are confident, they borrow with clear purpose, and they follow through. The responsibility for platforms like ours is to build products that are accessible, transparent, and designed for such a cohort.”
As India’s credit culture evolves, this new generation of women borrowers appears to be rewriting the rules, proving that financial confidence and responsibility can go hand in hand.
