“Oppo’s bid was five times that of Star India’s” – BCCI CEO Rahul Johri

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday (March 7) announced OPPO Mobiles India Private Limited as the new team sponsor for the Indian Cricket Team as the existing contract with Star India expires in March. The mobile manufacturing giant OPPO’s association with BCCI will start from April 2017 for a period of five years.

“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is pleased to announce OPPO Mobiles India Private Limited as the new team sponsor for the Indian Cricket Team,” said BCCI in a statement released on Tuesday

The bid put by Oppo is nearly five times the bid put by Star India. And the jersey with the new logo will be first seen in India’s tour to England for the Champions Trophy.

“Oppo put in a record bid of Rs 1,079 crore for five years. This is almost five times the previous bid (Star India’s). The second highest bid was from Vivo which was 768 crore,” BCCI CEO Rahul Johri said at a press conference.

“Both the bids far exceeded the minimum reserve price that was set by BCCI at Rs 538 crore. These bids are testimony to the strength of the Indian cricket. It is testimony to the belief of people in Indian cricket,” said Johri, adding that there were nine bidders on the table.

“So in simple terms, Rs 4.17 crore per bilateral game and 1.51 crore per ICC game. To give a perspective, the previous highest was 1.71 crore per BCCI game, that has gone up to Rs 4.17 crore (per game),” he said.

“Star India’s sponsorship is till 31st March. Oppo becomes sponsors from April 1. So the first time India wears a Oppo shirt will be from the ICC Champions Trophy (scheduled in England from June 1),” Johri confirmed.

The new team sponsor will get its commercial logo printed on both the men’s and women’s jerseys and kits.