Sports
BCCI to decide on team sponsorship on 25 November
MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has issued a tender document for team sponsorship for the national team as well as for three other teams including the women‘s team.
BCCI secretary N Srinivasan confirmed the news saying that the decision will be taken on 25 November, 2009. A floor price has not been fixed and the rights are from 2010-2014.
Srinivasan declined to comment on the amount that the world cricket‘s most powerful body is expecting. The BCCI is selling the bid documents for Rs 500,000, a copy which is non-refundable and non-adjustable, as per the tender notice put out by Srinivasan.
It has been learnt that current sponsor, Sahara, will get the first rights of refusal. Sahara paid around Rs 4 billion for the current deal.
A sports marketing expert says that the visibility that the winner gets will be huge, provided it is utilised in an effective manner. Apart from Sahara, another possible bidder would be Reliance Communications, which had bid the last time around but lost.
The company‘s head branding and marketing Sanjay Behl says that the company will evaluate the bid dosument before making a decision. Idea Cellular and Indian Oil Corporation had also bid the last time around. The winner, besides getting its logo on the shirt, can also use members of the Indian team in its ad campaigns.
Earlier, Nimbus had renewed its television deal with the BCCI for Rs 20 billion. This rights period is also from 2010-2014. Other rights that will come up for renewal in due course will include that for kit partner.
Sports
Sony Sports Network to broadcast 10 India cricket series
‘Goonjega India’ campaign brings non-stop Team India action from May 28 to Diwali across TV and Sony LIV.
MUMBAI: Sony Sports Network has just hit a massive six, it’s set to make Indian cricket goonjega louder than ever this season. Under its new campaign ‘Goonjega India’, the network will broadcast an unprecedented 10 major India series from 28 May 2026 right through to Diwali. Nine of them will also stream live on Sony LIV, giving fans wall-to-wall cricket across formats and borders.
The blockbuster calendar kicks off with the India Women’s Tour of England (3 T20Is and 1 Test in May-July), followed by the highly anticipated India Tour of England (5 T20Is and 3 ODIs in July exclusive to Sony Sports Network). The action rolls on with the India Tour of Sri Lanka in August, the India Tour of New Zealand in October-November, and both men’s and women’s T20 competitions at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (17 September to 3 October). Rounding off the line-up are four key ACC events: the Women’s Asia Cup 2026, Men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup 2026, U19 Men’s Asia Cup 2026 and U19 Women’s Asia Cup 2026.
Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer and business head of sports and international Rajesh Kaul said, “Cricket remains the biggest force in India’s sporting culture, and with Goonjega India, we are bringing fans an extraordinary run of Team India action from May 28 to Diwali. From the Women in Blue’s England tour to the men’s marquee clashes in England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand, alongside the Asian Games and major ACC tournaments, this is one of the most compelling cricket line-ups on Indian television.”
To build excitement, Sony Sports Network has released three high-energy animated films that celebrate the scale, emotion and rivalry of the season from the opening roar on 28 May to the Diwali blockbuster in New Zealand.
From the first ball in England to the final fireworks before Diwali, Indian cricket is about to echo across living rooms like never before. Whether you’re cheering for the Women in Blue, the Men in Blue or the rising U19 stars, Sony Sports Network has made sure there’s barely a day without a reason to shout “India! India!” This season, the calendar isn’t just packed, it’s perfectly pitched.
