The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has finalized a lucrative title sponsorship deal for India’s home international series with IDFC FIRST Bank, securing a per-game price of INR 4.2 Crore. The bidding process began with a base price of INR 2.4 Crores but concluded with a significantly higher offer from the private bank. BCCI’s previous partnership with Mastercard ended in March, prompting the search for a new title sponsor.
IDFC FIRST Bank emerged as the successful bidder amidst competition from Sony Sports, as other contenders were notably absent from the bidding process. The bank, formerly known as Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC), is set to engage in a three-year agreement with BCCI, starting with a series of three ODIs against Australia in the coming month. This partnership will extend until August 2026, encompassing 56 international matches and projecting a total revenue of approximately Rs 235 crore for BCCI.
Despite a modest increase of about 12 percent in comparison to previous deals, market conditions and the limited participation of corporate entities in the bidding process make this collaboration advantageous for both BCCI and the sponsors. Notably, BCCI adjusted the base price to Rs 2.4 crore from the initially proposed Rs 3.8 crore to align with market dynamics. The bidding process took place at a luxury hotel in South Mumbai on August 25th.
The partnership between BCCI and IDFC FIRST Bank signals a significant stride in securing financial support for India’s international cricket series, ensuring the continuity of the nation’s cricketing pursuits on a global stage.