MAM
Vi and Team Vitality forge a strategic esports partnership in India Sub
Mumbai: According to the State of India Gaming Report 2022, the Indian esports industry is expected to grow to Rs 140 million by 2027. Over the last few years, esports as a category gained recognition as a mainstream sport especially after being debuted as an official medal sport at various international sports platforms. To capitalise on this growing consumer category, Vodafone Idea (Vi), one of India’s telecom operators and Paris based Team Vitality, international esports organisation, have announced a long-term union to boost the esports ecosystem in India.
With this first of its kind collaboration, the two brands jointly aim to create opportunities and exposures to esports fans and gaming enthusiasts alike. The partnership encompasses many aspects such as brand sponsorship, content partnerships, gaming events and unique experiences at a never-seen-before scale. This will enable Vi customers to participate in esports and allow exclusive access to some of the popular Team Vitality tournaments and teams. This partnership will create opportunities for budding esports talent from across the country to have access to professional players, master classes, meet & greets with esports talent and many other opportunities.
Vi is known for its presence in the mobile games segment, offering a wide range of hyper casual mobile games to users via Vi Games on Vi App. Through this association with Team Vitality, Vi now aims to deepen its focus on esports in India. Vi Games in the recent past forayed into the esports segment by hosting popular free-to-play tournaments across games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Free Fire Max, Asphalt 9, Clash Royale, etc.
Commenting on the association, Vi CMO Avneesh Khosla, said, “Gaming has always been our strategic focus area and we have continuously strived to strengthen our gaming portfolio with right partnerships and relevant offerings. Over the last few years, esports has revolutionized the mobile gaming arena especially with younger audiences, and hence, deepening our focus in this space was a natural progression for Vi Games. We are excited to partner with one of the leading esports organizations of the world – Team Vitality. Together, we aim to drive and democratize access to the esports ecosystem in India. In the coming months, we will introduce some exciting esports and other youth centric content for our consumers to experience.”
Speaking on the occasion, Team Vitality India managing director Randall Fernandez said, “We are exhilarated to announce our partnership with Vi. We are at a juncture where technology will catapult gaming to the next level and eagerly look forward to our journey together. We will unlock new horizons searching for aspiring gaming talent across the length and breadth of the country, set new precedents and create indelible marks within the esports industry.”
Locally, Team Vitality’s all Indian Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) team were among the top 16 teams globally who qualified and competed in the CODM World Championship 2023 that was held in Atlanta, US between 15 and 17 December. The organisation previously roped in popular gaming content creators Nischay ‘Live Insaan’ Malhan, Rachit ‘Rachitroo’ Yadav, Nitin ‘Classified YT’ Chougale, Shagufta ‘Xyaa’ Iqbal and Pratik ‘Aurum’ Mehra who have a cumulative YouTube base of 20 million subscribers.
To capitalise on this upward growing industry and to build a deeper connect with consumers, Vi and Team Vitality plan to launch various gaming contests and events.
Brands
Zelio E-Mobility ties up with Punjab Kings as official EV partner for 2026
Cricket debut partnership to boost brand reach and spotlight EV models
MUMBAI: Zelio E-Mobility has partnered with Punjab Kings as its official EV partner for the 2026 season, marking the brand’s first foray into cricket-led marketing as it looks to accelerate its national footprint.
The partnership will see Zelio leverage one of India’s most-watched sporting platforms through branding, digital integrations and in-stadia activations across the season. The company’s flagship models, XMen 2.0 and the newly launched XMen+, will be showcased by the franchise, placing them at the centre of fan engagement initiatives.
For Zelio, the tie-up is as much about visibility as it is about scale. With cricket cutting across regions and demographics, the brand is aiming to deepen its connect with consumers in Tier 2 and emerging markets, where demand for electric mobility is steadily rising.
Commenting on the association, Zelio E-Mobility managing director Kunal Arya said, “Cricket continues to be one of the most powerful platforms to connect with audiences across India. Our association with Punjab Kings allows us to engage with a wide consumer base while strengthening Zelio’s brand presence in a culturally relevant environment.” He added that such partnerships help align brand visibility with the company’s growth momentum.
Echoing the sentiment, Punjab Kings chief commercial officer Saurabh Arora said, “We are delighted to welcome Zelio Electric Scooters as our official EV partner. This partnership reflects the growing synergy between sport and sustainable innovation.” He noted that the collaboration aims to drive meaningful fan engagement while supporting the broader shift towards clean mobility.
The partnership comes on the back of Zelio’s recent public market debut, where it raised Rs 78.34 crore through its IPO, with participation from both institutional and retail investors.
With a dealer network spanning over 350 outlets across more than 20 states and union territories, Zelio serves a growing base of electric mobility users across two- and three-wheeler segments.
As the EV race gathers pace in India, Zelio’s cricket pitch debut signals a clear play for mindshare, blending sport, sustainability and scale to power its next phase of growth.
