Indian players and the BCCI unhappy with Nike

The Indian team and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken a strong exception to the below par clothing that Nike has been providing the players in the last few months. The issue has been taken up at the highest quarters of the cricketing circle in the country and the authorities are not pleased with the kit-sponsor, at all. Nike has been associated with Indian cricket team since 2006 when it became the official kit sponsor.

An American multinational corporation, Nike is a household name all over the globe, more so in India. In 2016, the company paid approximately Rs 370 crores to be appointed as the team kit sponsor till 2020. Their contract runs from 1 Jan 2016 to 30 September 2020, and they’re known to shell out Rs 87,34,000 per match.

Players and the BCCI not pleased with Nike

Allegedly, the Indian players were miffed with the sub-standard clothing provided by Nike in the past few months and reported the same. Following suit, the Chief Executive Officer of the BCCI, Rahul Johri and General Manager Game development, Ratnakar Shetty took up the issue with the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA).

It was reported by The Indian Express that Johri confirmed the matter has been conveyed to the CoA and its chairman, Vinod Rai expressing his concerns about the same. “It (Nike’s clothing) has come up for discussion in last CoA meeting and chairman CoA (Vinod Rai) took it very strongly. The team cannot have sub-standard kits and we will be engaging with Nike and he has asked to put our case strongly,” he said.

“We have to engage with them, we will have a meeting with them (Nike) next week and try to resolve it at earliest,” said Johri.

It is also understood that Nike India communications head, Keerthana Ramakrishnan did not respond to emails or text messages regarding queries about the matter.