MAM
Tata Altroz joins as official partner of IPL 2020
NEW DELHI: Tata Motors Altroz, its premium hatchback, is the Official Partner for Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. The IPL begins on 19 September and will be played across 3 venues, located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi & Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, for a total of 50 days. Continuing its association for the third consecutive year with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Altroz follows in the path of its stablemates, the Nexon and the Harrier, both of which have been the tournament’s official partners, during the 2018 and the 2019 seasons, respectively.
Commenting on this association, Tata Motors head, marketing passenger vehicle business unit Vivek Srivatsa said “The festive season has kicked in well for us and IPL is nothing short of a festival for the cricket fans across the country. We are elated to be back for the third consecutive year with IPL and this time with a car that has set Gold Standards in every sphere – The Tata Altroz. Much like the Altroz, which is India’s safest hatchback, this year’s IPL will be played in a safe and sanitized environment keeping the safety of all players at utmost importance in this current scenario. At Tata Motors, we have always innovatively engaged with the consumers at large, the current need for which is more pronounced than ever before. We have elaborate plans to capture the viewer’s attention who will be virtually supporting their favourite teams, on-air and across digital platforms. We are positive to drive tremendous value from this association and hope to share the joy of watching live cricket with the fans yet again.”
Speaking on this continued partnership, IPL chairman Brijesh Patel said, “It is great to have Tata Motors continue their partnership for Dream11 IPL 2020 with their hatchback – Tata Altroz. Tata Motors have been the official partners since 2018 and our relationship with them continues to grow. Over the last two years, we have seen Tata Motors do some great activations for fans. In this challenging and unprecedented year, I am looking forward to Tata Altroz embracing technology to engage IPL fans further. We look forward to delivering great value to Tata Motors in 2020 and growing our partnership further.”
As the Official Partner, Tata Motors will showcase the Altroz in the stadium at all three venues in the UAE, throughout the tournament. The IPL matches will play host to the exciting Altroz Super Striker Awards – the player with the best strike rate of the match will win the much sought-after Altroz Super Striker Trophy along with a prize of INR 100,000. Moreover, the batsman with the highest strike-rate of the tournament drives home the Altroz. Furthermore, apart from displaying the car at the stadiums, Tata Motors will also be indulging creatively with its customers to spread the cheer of the game through its dealerships and social media platforms. Tata dealerships across India will be the place where customers can soak into the ambience of IPL. This year fans too will get the chance to become Altroz Super Strikers through the Altroz Super Striker mobile game. It is free to participate in mobile games, where one can show their batting skills and can even challenge their friends and family while playing the same. Daily winners of the Altroz Super Striker mobile game win vouchers worth INR 5000 and the season winner takes home the Altroz Super Striker trophy along with vouchers worth Rs 100,000. Ensuring a super fun-filled IPL season while encouraging absolute safety, Tata Motors will make the Altroz Super Striker mobile game available to all from 19 September onwards.
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.
