BCCI Open To VIVO’s Return As IPL 2021 Sponsor – Reports

The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League is all set to get underway around the month of April May after the successful conclusion of the IPL 2020 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) across three venues Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. 

As the board is all set to host the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League, the talks regarding the title sponsorship have started doing the rounds. Earlier in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League, Dream11 became the official title sponsor after VIVO, a Chinese smartphone brand voluntarily asked the cricket board to ‘pause’ the deal for a year following the tension on the India-China border last June. 

VIVO claimed the title sponsorship rights for the Indian Premier League starting 2018 for INR 440 crore per year for five seasons. In June 2019, the political tension between India and China on the Galwan valley border, however, resulted in the rise of anti-China sentiments in the country and hence VIVO took their hands off from the T20 league sponsorship. Later, Dream 11 replaced VIVO as the title sponsor for 13th edition of the Indian Premier League and paid only INR 222 crore which is half the sum VIVO had agreed on.

Meanwhile, Dream 11’s contract with the IPL ended on December 31 and once again the hunt for the sponsor of the most famous cash-rich league has started. 

BCCI Open To VIVO’s Return as IPL 2021 Sponsor

As per Dream11’s contract with BCCI, the company will have to step back if the Chinese smartphone brand VIVO decides to continue its association with the T20 Championship. However, if VIVO doesn’t turn up, then Dream11 will continue to hold the title rights till the 2022 edition. 

The break up of Dream11’s winning bid is as follows: Rs 222 crore for the first year, Rs 240 crore for year two, and Rs 240 crore for year three, for an average of Rs 234 crore per year.

Also, VIVO’s return will potentially depend on the political relations between India and China in the coming months. Given the scenario at present, the Chinese mobile maker’s return looks a lot tricky.