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[iand123]

Following on from the Kohli thread and his new Adidas (and MRF) deal it made me wonder why Indian players seem to behave differently to most other big cricketers in world cricket when it comes to sponsorship. I've always wondered why you see an Indian player using (example only) BAS gloves, a Nike bat and then another branded pads. Are they doing something that other pro's are missing a trick on by exposing as many sponsors as they can (bat, pads, gloves) as where the more traditional means of sponsorship means you'd use the same (yes i know alot of pros are rumored to use bats that are not what the stickers say they are) for all your gear (minus shoes)

Anyone able to shed any light on this?

Example Gutam Gambhir http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/image/630368.html?search=gambhir;page=1

MRF Bat. SG Gloves (and pads but not sure)

[Vitas Cricket]

Simple answer, money.

I imagine the likes of Grays, Kookaburra, GM etc won't do a deal with a player without at least some sort of exclusivity, bat, pads gloves as a minimum.

Yuvraj is the most notable Indian who has a head to toe deal, with Puma. I suspect the rest of them look to eek extra cash out of multiple sponsorship deals, they won't necessarily get loads for using just a set of BAS gloves, but from promotional appearances etc.

The bigger brands who are happy to do it are just as 'guilty' (not the right word, there is nothing wrong with it in my opinion, but it doesn't seem to fit the commercial model most companies look to follow) for allowing these deals to happen.

[iand123]

In that case i'm surprised it hasnt caught on with others. I'd have thought KP would have tried this especially with his India following. Or maybe Adidas pay him more than enough money it isnt worth it.

[Alvaro]

Sachin & Raina are all kitted out by Adidas.
It seems in India it is much more common to be sponsored by a non-cricket company that then become a manufacturer to comply with ICC rules.

Britannia, Hero Honda and MRF are examples who have plenty of cash to wang at players.

[VKS]

Sachin & Raina are all kitted out by Adidas.
It seems in India it is much more common to be sponsored by a non-cricket company that then become a manufacturer to comply with ICC rules.

Britannia, Hero Honda and MRF are examples who have plenty of cash to wang at players.

...yes and they are simply looking at brand awareness and this they feel comes from the bat that a player is using, not his pads and gloves. Rather than pay for a 30 second ad on TV, they would rather have their logo on a cricket bat which is then potentially on screen for many overs / hours if the batsmen is having a good day!

[VKS]

On the back of this marketing strategy, the likes of Hero Honda, MRF, Britannia and Wills have had huge brand exposure and seen their businesses in India grow at an amazing rate.

[MD2812]

Are players free to have unlimited (or at least multiple) sponsers in UK domestic cricket?

I always thought they were aloud a maximum of 2 sponsors advertised?

Yet Gambhir has
MRF Bat. SG Gloves and Reebok boots :S

[Alvaro]

As an aside, I remember that in 1996 all of the touring Pakistan players had Wills stickers on their bats.

[iand123]

Are players free to have unlimited (or at least multiple) sponsers in UK domestic cricket?

I always thought they were aloud a maximum of 2 sponsors advertised?

Yet Gambhir has
MRF Bat. SG Gloves and Reebok boots :S

Most players have a sticker on the back of their bats (more often than not its a bank of some sort) so i guess they do. Most players tend to have a boot deal with either adidas or nike

[The Palmist]

Sachin & Raina are all kitted out by Adidas.
It seems in India it is much more common to be sponsored by a non-cricket company that then become a manufacturer to comply with ICC rules.

Britannia, Hero Honda and MRF are examples who have plenty of cash to wang at players.

They don't always become manufatures. I have seen Dhoni playing with Manyavar [Indian Clothing Designer brand] stickers on his helmet. They weren't even proper stickers and were half hanging out.

[Alvaro]

If you sponsor a player so that your brand is the main sticker on a bat you have to be a cricket manufacturer for this to be legal.

I.e. if McVities sponsored KP's equipment, then there would have to be proof that they make/supply said equipment.

[jw17]

The thing that really annoys be about Gambhir is he is clearly contracted to wear Reebok spikes but wears spiked Asics trainers with a Reebok sticker on which is just down right rude. Zaheer Khan does the same thing but he puts a Nike tick on Asics spikes.

[The Palmist]

The thing that really annoys be about Gambhir is he is clearly contracted to wear Reebok spikes but wears spiked Asics trainers with a Reebok sticker on which is just down right rude. Zaheer Khan does the same thing but he puts a Nike tick on Asics spikes.

If Reebok and Nike are fine with it...why are you upset mate

[iand123]

Aren't reebok owned by Adidas?

[jamielsn15]

It used to happen a lot in football, back in the days of leather boots - players would black them out and put new stripes on them.  I can understand Gambhir, Zaheer et al, doing it, but why aren't the footwear brands making their spikes to measure?  Surely with the money they're paying them they can stretch to bespoke spikes, negating the need to wear opposing brands?