The Indian multinational group and global player in the Off-Highway tire market, Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), continues its partnership with India’s highly anticipated, T20 Cricket League season 15.
BKT Tires will be the ‘Official Tire Partner’ for eight teams namely, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and the newly announced team Gujarat Titans for the latest season.
As the ‘Official Tire Partner’, this season marks BKT’s first collaboration with Sunrisers Hyderabad & the newly announced franchise Gujarat Titans, the second consecutive year with the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and the third successive partnership with the remaining five teams.
Commenting on the development, Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, Balkrishna Industries said: “We are thrilled to see the enthusiasm and euphoria around the league reach new heights with the creation of two additional teams to the country’s biggest and the world’s most popular cricketing tournament. We at BKT are sincerely devoted to sustaining the virtues exemplified by the ‘gentleman’s game.’”
“This is a league that unifies the entire country and has a large number of fan following that transcends boundaries and truly exemplifies the country’s rich diversity,” he added.
BKT is known for being a supporter and follower of sporting events all over the world, from cricket to football, to the amazing acrobatics of Monster Jam.
Nationally, BKT is renowned for encouraging sports such as football through its partnership with ATK Mohun Bagan and North East United FC in the Indian Football League for two consecutive years. Additionally, BKT was the ‘Associate Partner’ for the Tamil Nadu Premier League for Seasons 2021 and 2019. It had associated with the 2019 Pro Kabaddi League, by partnering with eight out of twelve teams.
Passion and enthusiasm steer BKT’s association with sporting events worldwide. BKT has been associating with sporting events such as Monster Jam USA; the Italian football Serie B; Australia’s Big Bash League – Cricket; Spanish football LaLiga; Curling Canada’s Championships and both Women and Men World Curling Championship; The French Ligue 2 BKT and EuroLeague Basketball. Additionally, BKT is also the ‘Official Tire Supplier’ for the upcoming Rugby World Cup France 2023.
BKT Tires is globally recognized for its passion for sports. It deeply connects with all the sports values and wishes to inspire the joy of being rewarded for their persistence and resilience to achieve higher and bigger dreams.
All sports events are selected based on a precise strategy aiming at greater user proximity and increased brand awareness, assisted by RISE Worldwide, which is the exclusive sports consulting agency for BKT in India.
Notably, the upcoming IPL season will begin on March 26 and will be played in a bio-secure environment at a single hub to avoid air travel, considered as a major threat for the spread of COVID-19 infection, thereby affecting the players and tournament.
While 55 matches are scheduled to be held in Mumbai, the remaining 15 games will be staged in Pune while the playoffs’ venues haven’t been decided yet. Is most likley that the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad will stage the playoffs however, no official announcement has been made yet.
In the upcoming season, the 10 teams have been divided into two groups. While Group A comprises of Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants, Group B includes Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.
From this year onwards, the lucrative league will be a ten-team affair following the addition of the two new teams – Ahmedabad and Lucknow and will have a total of 74 games.