Nike provides Team India with new training kits

The official kit providers of the Indian cricket team, Nike, has equipped the team with new training kits. The players were seen practising with new kits on Tuesday. Team India is scheduled to play their second ODI of the 5-match series against hosts Sri Lanka on Thursday in Pallekele.

The Indian team had raised objections about the quality of kits presented by Nike, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) CEO, Rahul Johri had said that talks would be held with Nike representatives about the same. It seems that Nike has taken this issue on the chin and have sent the new kits to avoid any further disagreements.

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

The former captain MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Kedar Jadhav, Manish Pandey and Kuldeep Yadav were present at the optional training session and so far only they have used the new kits. The Nike representatives who were present at Pallekele stadium refused to comment on the new kit.

Official launch of the kits

According to the reports, players will use the kits during the ongoing series and against Australia in September- October and then based on their feedbacks the further steps would be taken. “The players will use the new set here and also during the limited-overs home series against Australia in September-October. Based on their feedback, the Nike will decide on its official launch,” the source was quoted as saying by Indian Express.

Nike has been the official supplier of Team India’s kits since January 2006 and their current deal with the team is until 2020, as in 2015, they again signed a contract renewal and paid 57 million dollars for the same.