BCCI ropes in OPPO as Indian Cricket Team new sponsor

Mumbai, March 7 (CRICKETNMORE):The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday named OPPO Mobiles India Private Limited as the new team sponsor for the national team.

"The mobile manufacturing giant OPPO's association with BCCI will start from April 2017 for a period of five years," the BCCI said in a statement.

OPPO takes the place of Star India, whose contract runs till March 31.

"OPPO Mobiles India Pvt Ltd., has won the sponsorship rights for Team India through a tender process today. The Team India sponsorship rights are for a period of five years and have been acquired at Rs. 1079.29 crore," read the statement.

"The bids were opened today (Tuesday) in the presence of a Committee of Administrators (COA) representatives -- Diana Edulji, BCCI officials and the bidders through a tender process at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai."

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During the five years of OPPO's association with BCCI, the Indian team will play 14 home series and 20 overseas series, which would also include the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Champions Trophy, ICC Cricket World Cup and the World T20 events. 

Commenting on the association, BCCI CEO Rahul Johri said: "On behalf of the BCCI, I would like to congratulate OPPO Mobiles India Pvt Ltd., on winning the rights and welcome them to the BCCI family."

"OPPO today, joins our other prominent sponsors like PayTM, PepsiCo, Hyundai and Janalakshmi Financial Services. OPPO Mobiles and the BCCI share a common vision and I am confident that we will work together to further grow Indian cricket," he added.

OPPO Mobiles global Vice President Sky Lee said the game of cricket is much more than just a sport for the Indians and hoped that the brand reaches new heights after associating with the Indian team.

"Cricket in India isn't just a sport, it is also a way of life, a culture, even a religion. OPPO is the most adorable youth centralised brand, we aim at reaching new heights alongside the Indian cricket team. Indeed as a smartphone brand OPPO has become a favourite brand among young people, today more than 100 million young people across the world are using OPPO camera phones," he said.

However, according to media reports, Star India decided not to renew the contract due to the recent administrative problems within the BCCI.

Star had won the rights to be the team sponsor in 2013 after Sahara's bid was found to be ineligible.