Sports
Vi partners with Chennai Super Kings as official sponsor
Telecom brand secures jersey branding and fan activations for next three years.
MUMBAI: Vi just bowled a googly of a partnership because when connectivity meets CSK, even the boundary rope feels like a strong signal. Vodafone Idea (Vi) has announced a multi-year partnership with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), naming itself the Official Sponsor for the upcoming IPL season and beyond. The deal, unveiled on 6 March 2026, will see Vi’s logo feature on the leading leg of the CSK playing uniform for the next three years.
The collaboration extends across digital platforms, in-stadium touchpoints and fan experiences, including on-ground activations, exclusive meet-and-greet opportunities, official signed merchandise and match ticket access for Vi users. A key focus is grassroots development through close work with the Super Kings Academy, supporting young cricketers boys and girls aged 6 to 23 with training and growth opportunities.
Vi chief marketing officer Avneesh Khosla said, “Cricket is deeply woven into India’s social and cultural fabric, creating shared experiences that unite communities across the country. Our partnership with Chennai Super Kings represents a powerful coming together of shared values passion, performance, and resilience.”
Chennai Super Kings managing director KS Viswanathan added, “We are delighted to welcome Vi to the Super Kings family. Vi’s strong digital reach and youth connect align perfectly with our vision of building deeper engagement with fans and aspiring players alike.”
The tie-up comes as Vi looks to deepen cultural relevance and strengthen fan connections through robust connectivity, while CSK continues its legacy of nurturing talent and delivering memorable moments on and off the field.
In a league where every run counts, Vi and CSK aren’t just playing the game, they’re building the stands, the academy and the conversation that keeps cricket alive long after the stumps are drawn.
Sports
JioStar terminates Bangladesh IPL and WPL broadcast rights deals
Payment defaults lead to licence cancellations and potential legal action.
MUMBAI: When the money stops flowing in cricket’s biggest cash cow, even the sub-licence holders can find themselves suddenly bowled out. JioStar India Private Limited has terminated its Bangladesh sub-licence agreements for the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Women’s Premier League (WPL) after the counterparty, Excel Lead IT Solutions FZ-LLC (holding company of broadcaster T-Sports), failed to clear outstanding dues.
The agreements, originally signed with Viacom18 (now part of JioStar) and later novated to Excel Lead, covered digital media rights for the IPL and WPL in Bangladesh for the 2023–27 seasons. In early January 2026, JioStar issued a demand notice for unpaid amounts related to the IPL 2025 and WPL 2025 seasons. Despite providing full access to matches and allowing complete commercial exploitation, the dues remained unpaid even after the cure period expired.
As a result, all licensed rights have automatically reverted to JioStar. The company has demanded immediate payment of all outstanding dues along with overdue interest and costs, and has instructed Excel Lead (T-Sports) to immediately cease any broadcast, streaming, promotion or exploitation of the rights in Bangladesh. Any continued use would constitute unauthorised exploitation.
JioStar is also considering legal proceedings, including interim and injunctive relief, to protect the commercial value of these high-profile cricket properties.
In a separate development, JioStar has invoked arbitration against Green Bean Sports Marketing (an affiliate of Gazi TV Bangladesh) over a sublicensing agreement for IPL television media rights in Bangladesh for the 2023–27 seasons. The agreement was terminated in January 2025 due to contractual breaches and payment issues.
Industry sources say JioStar remains confident in the judicial process and is determined to recover all outstanding amounts, including interest and litigation costs, in full.
The developments highlight a growing zero-tolerance approach by rights holders towards payment defaults and unauthorised exploitation in South Asia’s lucrative sports media market, where marquee cricket properties continue to command premium valuations.
In the high-stakes game of cricket broadcasting, it seems JioStar has decided that when payments don’t come, the game stops and the rights go back to the rightful owner.
