Cricket Commercials & Broadcasting
- ICC & YouTube Alliance: YouTube has officially partnered with the ICC to serve as the primary digital content hub for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. The platform will provide Indian fans with comprehensive coverage, including live action, pre-match build-ups, and post-game analyses.
- Zimbabwe Tour Rights Secured: FanCode and Zee Entertainment have jointly secured the broadcasting rights for India’s upcoming cricket tour of Zimbabwe.
- Jharkhand T20 Locks Long-Term Deal: The Jharkhand T20 Cricket League has signed Thums Up as its Official Beverage Partner in a seven-year agreement running through 2032. The tournament, scheduled from June 10 to June 23, will be streamed exclusively on the Jio-Disney network.
- Hyderabad T20 Principal Sponsor: Sreenidhi University has stepped up as the title sponsor for the Hyderabad Cricket League Telangana T20.
- KLF Nirmal Backs Shreyanka Patil: KLF Nirmal has roped in Indian cricketer Shreyanka Patil as its brand ambassador for Karnataka, a move that strategically bridges regional marketing with the grassroots development of women’s cricket.
Football & Hockey Developments
- Govt Urges ISL Commercial Task Force: Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has directed the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to constitute a dedicated task force. Their mandate is to build a robust, structured commercial roadmap for at least the next two ISL seasons.
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Public Screenings: Zee Entertainment is establishing a public viewing network across India for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Screening rights for the event have been awarded to partners including Novex Communications, Eagles FC Kerala, Zion Bridge, and What’s Up Goa.
- Hockey India League Returns: Season 3 of the Hero Hockey India League (HIL) is slated for January 2027. The tournament will be hosted across three cities—Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, and Delhi—with Bhubaneswar also serving as the host city for the Women’s HIL.
Chess & Archery Expansions
- State Reward for GM Praggnanandhaa: Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa will be awarded a cash incentive of ₹50 lakh by the Tamil Nadu government following his title victory at the Norway Chess 2026 tournament.
- Global Chess League Heads to Bengaluru: The fourth season of the Global Chess League—a collaborative joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE—is set to kick off in Bengaluru starting September 3.
- Archery Premier League Season 2: Hyderabad will host the second season of the Archery Premier League from October 8 to October 18. Organized by the Archery Association of India with backing from the Telangana government, the event will feature six competing franchise teams.
Corporate Moves & Brand Investments
- Rohit Sharma Invests in FITTR: Indian cricket captain Rohit Sharma has expanded his business portfolio by coming on board as an equity partner and investor in the fitness brand FITTR.
- Infosys Secures Knicks Deal: Madison Square Garden Entertainment and the New York Knicks have officially named global tech giant Infosys as their digital innovation partner.
- Leadership Change at TCM: Shveta Mehra has been appointed as the new Head of Sponsorships at TCM Sports Management.