Cricket: Commercials, Broadcasting & Governance
- Record-Breaking RCB Buyout Approved: The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has formally cleared the $1.78 billion (₹16,660 crore) acquisition of Royal Challengers Sports Pvt. Ltd.. The landmark deal sees an Aditya Birla Group-led consortium taking ownership of the franchise, which encompasses both the IPL and WPL teams.
- BCCI Ombudsman Questions HCA: BCCI Ombudsman and Ethics Officer Justice Arun Mishra has issued a formal notice to the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). The association has been given a four-week deadline to respond to a complaint alleging violations of the BCCI Constitution and the governance framework mandated by the Supreme Court.
- JioStar Elevates Prashant Khanna: Prashant Khanna has been promoted to Head of Sports Rights, Innovation, and Cricinfo Business at JioStar, expanding his leadership purview over domestic and international sports rights strategies.
- JioHotstar Appoints BCCI Rights Head: Strengthening its sports management division, JioHotstar has named Abhimanyu Khanna as its new Head of Rights Acquisition – BCCI. Moving up from his previous role as Senior Director of Premium Sports, he will now spearhead the evaluation and management of cricket media rights.
Corporate Moves & Leadership Appointments
- Akash Vadera Joins JioStar: Transitioning from his role as Brand Marketing Manager and Social Media Lead at Dream11, Akash Vadera has officially joined JioStar as the Director of Marketing for TADKA.
- Leadership Role for Jake Lush McCrum: ACG Sports has appointed Jake Lush McCrum, former CEO of the Rajasthan Royals, as the Chief Executive Officer of the India Basketball League (IBL). He is tasked with driving the league’s strategic and commercial development ahead of its anticipated launch in early 2027.
Brand Endorsements & Sponsorships
- MS Dhoni Secures Triple Partnerships: Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has made three major off-field moves this week. He was named the first-ever brand ambassador for DRiV, a leading global automotive aftermarket division. Concurrently, he was appointed as the brand ambassador for the BHIM payments app to push a trust-led growth initiative. Additionally, the Jharkhand state government is finalizing plans to appoint him as its official Tourism Brand Ambassador.
- Smriti Mandhana Backs Candere: Lifestyle fine jewellery brand Candere, a subsidiary of Kalyan Jewellers, has officially signed Indian women’s cricket star Smriti Mandhana as its latest brand ambassador.
- Sachin Tendulkar Joins SML Limited: SML Limited has expanded its marketing portfolio by bringing on cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar as its new brand ambassador.
- Sangram Singh Fronts The Sock Street: The Sock Street has launched a new promotional campaign featuring mixed martial arts athlete and wrestler Sangram Singh as the face of its performance gear.
- Kia India Commits to TPL: Automaker Kia India has signed a multi-year agreement to become the principal partner and front-of-jersey sponsor for all eight franchise clubs competing in the Tennis Premier League (TPL).
Football, Badminton & Multi-Sport Retail
- Zee Entertainment Bags Bundesliga Rights: Enhancing its international football portfolio, Zee Entertainment has secured the exclusive media rights to broadcast the German Bundesliga in India for a five-year period, starting with the 2026-27 season. Matches will be available via Unite8 Sports channels and streamed on Zee5. This follows the network’s previous long-term deal covering 39 FIFA competitions through 2034.
- BWF World Tour Adjusts India Open: The Badminton World Federation has announced its 2027-28 World Tour calendar. Responding to past concerns regarding winter air quality and freezing indoor temperatures, the India Open Super 750 will shift from its traditional January slot to February 2-7 in 2027, before reverting to late January in 2028.
- BookMyShow Powers BWF Championships: BookMyShow has been designated as the official ticketing partner for the upcoming BWF World Championships New Delhi 2026. Ticket sales are officially live for the event, marking the prestigious tournament’s return to India after 17 years.
- PlayBlue Secures Seed Funding: Omnichannel multi-sports retail platform PlayBlue has successfully raised a $2.7 million seed round. The capital will fuel the expansion of its nationwide e-commerce platform and the launch of its flagship physical retail stores.