Sports
Rapoo India renews Mumbai Indians partnership for IPL 2026
Exclusive MI-themed accessories launch alongside nationwide roadshows.
MUMBAI: Rapoo just hit a six with Mumbai Indians because when your mouse pad matches the team jersey, even your cursor starts cheering. Rapoo India, a leading global brand in wireless peripherals and computer accessories, has extended its partnership as the Official Computer Accessories Partner of Mumbai Indians for the TATA IPL 2026 season. Entering the second year of the collaboration, Rapoo aims to fuse its technology innovation with the passion and energy of one of cricket’s most iconic franchises.
The partnership brings an exclusive range of Mumbai Indians-themed Rapoo accessories to market, including wireless keyboards, mice and mousepads featuring the team’s signature blue and gold design. These products blend Rapoo’s advanced wireless tech and multi-mode connectivity with vibrant team branding, letting fans showcase loyalty while upgrading their digital setup.
The MI-edition range is available through Variety Infotech (pan-India delivery), the official Mumbai Indians MI Shop, leading e-commerce platforms (Amazon, Flipkart, Zepto) and major offline retail outlets across India.
To amplify fan engagement during the IPL season, Rapoo will roll out on-ground roadshows and giveaways at prominent electronics hubs, including Lamington Road, Vashi Plaza and Thane Market (Mumbai), CTC (Hyderabad); Mount Road (Chennai), SP Road (Bengaluru), Tilak Road (Pune), Nehru Place (Delhi), Naza Market (Lucknow), Chandni Market (Kolkata), Shaheed Nagar (Bhubaneswar), Roshpa Tower (Ranchi), Silver Mall (Indore), and MP Nagar (Bhopal). These activations let fans experience the MI-themed accessories first-hand.
Rapoo regional director for India & SAARC, MEA Mukesh Kumar Chaudhary said, “We are excited to continue our partnership with Mumbai Indians, a team that represents performance, consistency, and an incredible connection with fans. At Rapoo, we believe technology can enhance everyday experiences, and through this collaboration, we aim to bring fans closer to the game with specially designed accessories that combine innovation, style, and team spirit.”
Founded in 2002, Rapoo operates in over 80 countries and is recognised for advancements in wireless technologies, multi-mode connectivity and user-centric design, backed by over 500 global patents and numerous international awards.
In a season where every boundary counts, Rapoo isn’t just partnering with Mumbai Indians, it’s giving fans the perfect gear to keep clicking, typing and cheering long after the stumps are drawn.
Sports
IPL 19 TV Ad Volumes Rise 10 per cent Despite Fewer Brands
Google storms top spot as e-com services and mouth fresheners lead charge in four-match clash with IPL 18.
MUMBAI: Google has bowled a perfect googly in the IPL 19 ad arena while the batsmen chased sixes on the field, the search giant has quietly smashed the biggest boundary of all, claiming 12.67 per cent of commercial airtime and leaving rivals gasping. Overall television ad volumes for the four live matches of IPL 19 hit an indexed 109.94 compared with IPL 18’s baseline of 100, a crisp 9.94 per cent jump that proves advertisers still see cricket’s biggest stage as the ultimate pitch. Yet the numbers tell a more nuanced tale. Categories slimmed from 47 to 40 (a 14.9 per cent drop) and advertisers shrank from 58 to 43 (down 25.9 per cent), suggesting a leaner, meaner battle where the survivors are spending smarter.
The new pecking order makes for fascinating reading. In IPL 19, Ecom-Other Services surged to the summit with 13.78 per cent share, nudging out perennial favourite Mouth Fresheners (13.57 per cent). Air Conditioners (5.94 per cent), Corporate-Financial Institutes (5.69 per cent) and Paints (5.23 per cent) rounded out the top five, elbowing aside last season’s heavy hitters. Back in IPL 18, Mouth Fresheners led at 10.73 per cent, followed by Ecom-Gaming (10.62 per cent), Cellular Phones-Smart Phones (7.83 per cent), Biscuits (7.66 per cent) and Cars (6.60 per cent).
On the advertiser leaderboard, Google’s 12.67 per cent dominance is unassailable. Reliance Consumer Products (7.28 per cent) took silver, Havells India (5.94 per cent) bronze, while Vishnu Packaging (5.56 per cent) and K P Pan Foods (4.80 per cent) completed the top five. Contrast that with IPL 18, where Parle Biscuits (7.66 per cent) topped the chart, followed by Vishnu Packaging (5.92 per cent), Apple Computer India (5.52 per cent), Reliance Consumer Products (5.31 per cent) and Billion Brains Garage Ventures (4.52 per cent).
Fresh blood has clearly refreshed the mix. Nine entirely new categories and a whopping 45 new brands entered the fray. Among the debutants making an instant splash: Chocolates, Laptops/Notebooks, Range of Hair Care, Corporate-Pharma/Healthcare and Footwear. Stand-out new brands include Google Search Engine, Google Gemini, Lloyd Designer AC, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate, Hero Splendor Plus Range and Joy Hello Sun Sunblock Anti-Tan Lotion, proof that even the most unexpected players are now eyeing cricket’s captive millions.
Conversely, 16 categories sat out IPL 19, including former stalwarts Ecom-Gaming, Cellular Phones-Smart Phones, Biscuits, Airlines and Fans. The message is clear: the ad economy is evolving faster than a T20 run-chase.
So while the on-field drama delivers its usual thrills, the commercial breaks are delivering something even more compelling, a masterclass in how to turn 22 yards of grass into serious brand territory. IPL 19 has shown that when the right mix of innovation and investment meets cricket fever, the ad scoreboard lights up in ways even the most optimistic analysts might not have predicted.
