MAM
Kings XI Punjab ropes in Tata Motors Prima as title sponsors for IPL 8
MUMBAI: The cricketing season is on and in the midst of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 fever, Tata Motors Prima has announced that it will be the title sponsor for Kings XI Punjab in the soon to begin Indian Premier League (IPL) season eight.
The announcement is an extension of the brands partnership with the team from the last season, where it was the associate sponsor. HTC is the associate sponsor for the franchise, for this season.
Speaking to indiantelevision.com on the reason for the extension, Tata Motors executive director commercial vehicles Ravi Pisharody said, “Firstly there is a natural connect with cricket as our target audience is male. Secondly, the transport community in Punjab is a big chunk of our customers.”
Reasoning further he said, “If you see, the colour of the truck and the teams jersey is the same i.e bright red.”
Kings XI Punjab co-promoter and director Mohit Burman said that the coming together of the two testified the brands faith in the franchise. Burman stated that the team’s performance both on and off the field would prove to be beneficial for the brand. Kings XI Punjab had made it to the finals in the last season of IPL, where it lost to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Meanwhile, Kings XI Punjab co-owner Preity Zinta feels that the brand acted as a lucky charm for the team which saw them moving towards the finals in the last season.
At an event held in Mumbai, the Kings XI Punjab jersey was also unveiled.
The team will play its first match on 8 April 2015 against Rajasthan Royals at MCA International stadium, Pune.
Brands
Funskool India crosses US$40 million turnover in FY 2025-26
Toy manufacturer posts steady growth despite global headwinds.
MUMBAI: Funskool India has played its cards well turning challenges into steady growth while keeping the fun alive in the toy business. The country’s leading toy manufacturer has reported a turnover of $40 million in FY 2025-26, demonstrating resilience in a difficult global environment. The company recorded an average growth of 14 per cent over the past two years, with exports growing at a healthy 19% year-on-year.
While domestic business grew at a modest single-digit pace, Funskool saw encouraging traction in key categories such as Fundough (dough) and Handycrafts (arts & crafts).
Funskool India Ltd. CEO K.A. Shabir said, “We successfully navigated the challenges posed by US tariffs last year and continued to grow both our export and domestic businesses. Given the ongoing geopolitical situation in West Asia, we are currently working with a moderate growth outlook of 12–15 per cent, with plans to revisit our targets after Q1 once the situation stabilises.”
He highlighted strengthened partnerships with global companies including Spin Master (Canada), Moose Toys (Australia), Melissa & Doug (USA), Asmodee (France), Learning Resources (USA), and Buffalo Games (USA). The expansion of the company’s Goa plant is progressing and is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year.
Looking ahead, Funskool expects a significant shift in domestic growth momentum for FY 2026-27, driven by new categories such as friction vehicles under the brand “BlazeTrix”, remote-control cars under “VoltRush”, and the addition of popular licences like Paw Patrol.
In an industry where playtime never stops, Funskool has shown that even in turbulent times, a smart strategy and strong partnerships can keep the business ticking along nicely. As it gears up for the next financial year, the company appears well-positioned to build on its solid foundation and bring even more joy to children worldwide.
