Smartphone brand Oppo will replace broadcaster Star India as the official sponsor of the Indian cricket team from April 1, winning the bid with a "mind-boggling sum" of Rs 1,079 crore ($162M), according to the PTI. Board of Control for Cricket in India CEO Rahul Johri said, "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 Rs 768 crore ($115.4M). Both the bids far exceeded the minimum reserve price that was set by BCCI at Rs 538 crore ($81M). These bids are testimony to the strength of the Indian cricket." The bid is for all Indian teams, including women’s and juniors. Oppo will have its commercial logo on "both the men’s and women’s kits" (PTI, 3/7). The HINDUSTAN TIMES reported Oppo will pay Rs 4.61 crore ($693,000) per bilateral match and Rs 1.56 crore ($230,000) for an Int'l Cricket Council match. Indian conglomerate Sahara was the previous highest bidder for Team India sponsorship with Rs 3.34 crore ($500,000) per match. The bidding process took place under the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (HINDUSTAN TIMES, 3/7).
