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Tag: Arvinder Singh

  • Pika-boost for Titans as Pokémon powers up 2025 fan experience

    Pika-boost for Titans as Pokémon powers up 2025 fan experience

    MUMBAI: Gotta catch that crowd! The Gujarat Titans got a supercharged fan boost this IPL season courtesy of Pokémon. As part of an electrifying tie-up for the 2025 league, Pikachu turned up in full Titans gear, spreading sparks from grassroots warm-ups to stadium selfies. The yellow mascot didn’t just show up he showed out. Ahead of the season, Pokémon integrated with the franchise’s Junior Titans programme, a unique under-14 initiative held across five cities in Gujarat. The big moment? A surprise visit by Pikachu himself at the Ahmedabad centre, leading warm-up drills to the upbeat rhythm of Japan’s Radio Taiso Number One, much to the delight of the young cricketers.

    During the league, Pokémon took over the Narendra Modi Stadium, with a vibrant booth drawing in over 42,000 visitors across seven home matches. Kids collected free Pikachu stickers, posed for photos with the mascot, and watched their yellow hero dance and dazzle in a Gujarat Titans jersey.

    Some lucky fans from the Junior Titans squad were also invited to meet Pikachu on game day, a crossover moment that blurred the lines between fantasy and fandom.

    “From the Junior Titans initiative to in-stadium experiences, young fans were excited to interact with Pikachu in Gujarat Titans colours,” said Gujarat Titans COO Colonel Arvinder Singh. “It added a unique dimension to our 2025 campaign.”

    The action spilled beyond the pitch. At Nexus One mall in Ahmedabad, Pokémon hosted a ‘Pokémon Fiesta’, featuring dance shows and games, while Pokémon GO players spotted Gujarat Titans logos on in-game Poké Stops across the city.

    The Pokémon Company corporate officer Susumu Fukunaga noted: “We were able to tap into a new audience we hadn’t reached before. From young cricketers to fans in Ahmedabad, the response was energising.”

    With the Titans reaching the Playoffs, and Pikachu stealing hearts at every turn, this unexpected collab proved one thing: cricket and cartoons make a shockingly good team.

     

  • Fintech hits a six as Finkeda partners with Gujarat Titans this season

    Fintech hits a six as Finkeda partners with Gujarat Titans this season

    MUMBAI: Batting for Bharat, the fintech way, Gujarat Titans just scored a new partner in their lineup, and this one’s here to digitise your wallet. Leading digital banking platform Finkeda (also known as Ikeda) has officially joined hands with the IPL franchise as an official partner, aiming to bring smarter financial solutions to cricket fans across India’s tier 2, 3 and 4 cities.

    As Gujarat Titans ramp up efforts to boost fan engagement and digital access, Finkeda is stepping up to the crease with its wide suite of services, ranging from Aadhar-enabled banking and micro ATMs to mutual funds, bill payments and P2P lending. The move underscores a growing trend: the fusion of cricketing fervour and financial inclusion.

    Gujarat Titans COO Colonel Arvinder Singh said, “This association with Finkeda aligns with our larger goal of broadening avenues for seamless user experience. With their expertise in fintech and digital financial solutions, GT fans are up for some exciting new opportunities to know finances better. We are hopeful that this will add up to an enriching overall experience combined with the excitement of play.”

    Finkeda, chairman and managing director Manish Kumar Goyal said, “Gujarat Titans have shown the country and the world that it is possible to be a disruptor despite being new and competing with established players. It is a proud moment for all of us at Finkeda to be a sponsor of Gujarat Titans, a team that has created such a huge impact in such little time. We share their passion and motivation to win and believe that every individual and business, regardless of where they are located in India, deserve access to efficient and state-of-the-art fintech solutions.”

    Since launching in 2019, Finkeda has grown rapidly as a one-stop fintech destination for both urban and rural India. By tapping into Gujarat Titans’ roaring fan base, the brand is looking to deepen its roots in untapped markets, one six at a time.

    With fintech and cricket joining forces, fans can expect more than just boundaries and bouncers this season they’ll be banking on better financial literacy too.

  • Havmor & Gujarat Titans launch new campaigns for 2025 season

    Havmor & Gujarat Titans launch new campaigns for 2025 season

    Mumbai: Havmor Ice Cream has renewed its successful partnership with the Gujarat Titans for the 2025 season. This collaboration, established 24 months ago, reflects the shared values of excellence, passion, and community spirit, aiming to deliver exceptional experiences to cricket fans across India.

    As part of the renewed agreement, Havmor and Gujarat Titans will launch several exciting initiatives to engage fans. Known for its innovation in flavours, Havmor will introduce new products alongside creative, cricket-themed campaigns throughout the season. The partnership will celebrate Gujarat’s vibrant spirit while offering unique moments for both brands’ supporters.

    Havmor Ice Cream managing director Komal Anand stated, “This partnership has grown into something special, and we are eager to build on the trust and success we’ve achieved. We aim to create unforgettable experiences that reflect our shared love for cricket, the pride of Gujarat, and community.”

    Gujarat Titans COO Arvinder Singh stated, “Havmor, as a homegrown brand, has captured the hearts of millions with its innovative offerings. This renewed partnership will undoubtedly enhance the fan experience and elevate excitement throughout the season.”

    Both brands are committed to blending the thrill of cricket with the indulgence of Havmor’s creamy ice creams, promising a memorable 2025 season for fans across the country.

     

  • Gujarat Titans is all set to launch ‘Junior Titans’ – Let’s Sport out

    Gujarat Titans is all set to launch ‘Junior Titans’ – Let’s Sport out

    Mumbai: Gujarat Titans to introduce ‘Junior Titans’, an initiative dedicated to fostering a love for outdoor sports among children under 14. This program, in collaboration with the Spanish Football League, LALIGA, will be organised across various cities in Gujarat. ‘Junior Titans’ in the spirit of ‘Let’s sport out’ is designed to reignite the joy of outdoor activities among young children.

    This initiative is open to all children in the U-14 age group, emphasising the sheer enjoyment of sports over competitive pursuits. The program focuses on bringing children back to the ground to relish the essence of play and sportsmanship. It offers a delightful and interactive platform, featuring a range of engaging activities such as cricket and football challenges, interactive games, and an exclusive glimpse into GT world. Furthermore, the collaboration with LALIGA will provide young aspirants a football masterclass, supervised by the technical director of the LALIGA football schools Miguel Casal.

    Gujarat Titans COO Colonel Arvinder Singh said, “Junior Titans is an activity created to nurture a passion for sports among young children. The collaboration with LALIGA will enhance our efforts to foster an active lifestyle that will also help in a child’s personal development. The event will allow children to experience the thrill of sports in a fun environment. We are thankful to the host and participating schools in all the five cities and shall strive to grow the scale of the program every year”

    LALIGA international department head Octavi Anoro said, “Our partnership with Gujarat Titans for the Junior Titans underlines our commitment to encouraging young sports talent at the grassroots. The event gives children exposure to world-class sports brands while having fun.”

    For more updates on Gujarat Titans, tune in on the following:

    Website: https://www.gujarattitansipl.com/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GujaratTitansIPL/

    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/gujarattitans

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gujarat_titans/

    The ‘Junior Titans’ event will take place every Saturday from 20 June 2024 across the various cities of Gujarat. The event will be held in Ahmedabad on 20 January 2024 in Vadodara on 27 January in Surat on 3 February in Rajkot on10 February, in Bhuj on 17 February and in Ahmedabad on 24 February. The details of the venues will be notified soon.

  • Kansai Nerolac renews commitment to Gujarat with ‘Man of the Match’ grant

    MUMBAI: Staying true to its commitment of supporting skill development initiatives and to inculcate the spirit of performance amongst youth, Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd (KNPL), one of the leading paint companies in India, in association with Gujarat Lions, has announced a unique initiative – ‘Man of the Match’ grant.

    The Man of the Match Grant will match the Man of the Match award amount from each IPL home game played by Gujarat Lions and release it on behalf of the best player of the Gujarat Lions team. The grant will be used towards imparting painting training to unemployed youth and equip them with a livelihood skill.

    Kansai Nerolac Paints GM – marketing – decorative paints Peeyush Bachlaus and Gujarat Lions CEO Arvinder Singh were present at the ceremony to announce the initiative. Gujarat Lion’s star players Dinesh Karthik, James Faulkner, Ishan Kishan and Coach Brad Hodge, were also part of the ceremony.

    Bachlaus said, “We at Kansai Nerolac are excited to initiate the ‘Man of the Match’ grant in association with Gujarat Lions. This initiative empowers the unemployed youth and offers them an opportunity to enhance skills through classroom as well as practical training by our experts.”

    Singh said, “We are proud to be associated with Kansai Nerolac Paints Ltd, by supporting skill development in our community we are supporting a bright future for India. Gujarat Lions believe that there is no dearth of talent in this country and we must do our bit to create an environment which is conducive to nurturing talent, helping them excel and realise their true potential.”

    “We share a special relationship with Gujarat and initiatives in the field of education, sports and cultural heritage among other fields, we aim to bring to the fore benefits of our healthy home paints range to create a better living environment for the people of Gujarat,” added Bachlaus.

  • KXIP unveils OCM as official suiting partner

    KXIP unveils OCM as official suiting partner

    NEW DELHI: OCM India, men’s apparel fabric manufacturer, has announced its association with Kings XI Punjab as official suiting partner for the fifth edition of the cash rich tournament. This partnership was conceptualised by MEC Access, the sports, partnership and activation agency of MEC.

    As official partner, OCM will enjoy a range of privileges and entitlements to display their company logo on platforms that include KXIP official website, player jerseys as well as using KXIP players for public appearances.

    KXIP COO Col. Arvinder Singh said, “We are happy to have a leading men’s suiting brand like OCM as our Official Suiting Partner. We are confident this association with OCM will be rewarding. Both the brands share similar synergies and with an exciting squad and support of our partners, we are heading to the tournament with great zeal.”

    The tie-up with KXIP will offer OCM a platform to increase its brand visibility through on-ground action and amplify the impact by reaching out to the audience through various media platforms.

    OCM India CEO S K Singhal said, “The association with King XI Punjab will help the company to relate with India’s masses in a big way. OCM has a strong retail presence across the country and has its manufacturing base in Amritsar, Punjab. We keenly look forward to zooming to greater heights building on the exciting fervor of IPL and wish all the participating young cricketers the very best for the game.”

  • Kings XI Punjab inks six-year L&M deal with Miroma Entertainment for MG of $6 mn

    Kings XI Punjab inks six-year L&M deal with Miroma Entertainment for MG of $6 mn

    MUMBAI: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab has inked a six-year licensing and merchandising deal with UK-based Miroma Entertainment for a minimum guaranteed amount of $6 million, a top company executive said.

    The Mohali franchise will also get royalty revenues. “We expect the business to generate revenue of at least $25 million over the course of six years. Earlier we tried different models including doing it ourselves or giving it to a local agency but it did not quite work out,” Kings XI Punjab COO Col. Arvinder Singh told Indiantelevision.com.

    The deal with Miroma Entertainment will expand Kings XI Punjab’s brand reach to the overseas markets where there is a strong Punjabi population.

    Said Singh, “We see the US, UK and Canada as important overseas markets as they have a good Punjabi diaspora. We got feedback from our fans through channels like social networks that our products were not available there. Merchandise will include things like T-shirts, flags, key chains and scarves. As our Master Licensee, Miroma will do deals with companies in different areas like linen, food, shoes and stationery. The sky is the limit in terms of the number of licensing partners that sign up.”

    The products have started to roll out and will be more visible once the IPL starts.

  • ‘We expect to break even this year’ : Kings XI Punjab COO Col Arvinder Singh

    ‘We expect to break even this year’ : Kings XI Punjab COO Col Arvinder Singh

    Kings XI Punjab is yet to recover from the shock, its break even target having gone haywire after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) terminated its franchise contract in October 2010 for breaching ownership rules. The Bombay High Court came to its rescue, allowing it to be a part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after submitting $20.7 million in bank guarantee.

     

    Having paid $76 million to acquire the IPL franchise, Kings XI Punjab is now on recovery course. Sponsorship deals have been stitched and the Mohali franchise is hoping to improve its performance this year.

     

    In an interview with Indiantelevision.com‘s Ashwin Pinto,Kings XI Punjab COO Col Arvinder Singh says the franchise should break even this year and post a revenue growth of 15-20 per cent.

     

    Excerpts:

    Q. Could you talk about how the IPL as a property has grown year on year?
    Cricket has achieved cult status in our country. In last four years since its inception in 2008, IPL has further strengthened the bond it has with the people of India.

     

    With time it has also amassed worldwide audiences. The league has grown beyond the realm of cricket and is considered as a complete entertainment package encompassing the entire family.

    Q. Kings XI Punjab had expected to break even in the fourth year. Has this happened or did the BCCI termination play spoilsport?
    We have not yet broken even. Break even is expected this year, for sure.

     

    Not everything goes as per plan. Ups and downs are a part of every business and they should not deter from chasing our dreams – that is to get the Cup home this year. We are constantly working towards creating a team which is extremely valuable and as partners, we will give all it takes – time, energy and resources for the love of the game.

     

    And yes, the arbitration process is yet to conclude.

    Q. What revenue growth do you expect this year and who are your sponsors?
    We expect 15-20 per cent growth this year and are on course to meet that target. ACC, ONN, USL, Kingfisher, Coca-Cola and Max Healthcare are some of our sponsors.

    Q. Emirates has not renewed its deal with you. Is the economic slowdown forcing brands to look at the cost of association more carefully compared to earlier years?
    We have been extremely fortunate that we have had the right partners since the inception of this tournament. This year too we have some of the best brands on our side – and we hope that there will be many more to come. When we enter in to a partnership with any brand, it is based on a set of mutually agreed and understood objectives.
    “We expect 15-20 per cent growth this year and are on course to meet that target”

    Q. IPL ratings fell last year, making it more expensive for marketers and sponsors. Do more efforts need to be taken in terms of marketing the event to consumers?
    IPL’s fan following is not limited only to India; it has also gathered audiences worldwide. While the ratings went down because of the World Cup just preceding the IPL season, the overall reach did see a substantial increase. IPL is looked as a complete entertainer and it will be interesting to see the ratings this year.

    Q. Has the licensing and merchandising area grown?
    This is a crucial source of revenue for the franchise. Having experimented with a few models in the past, we have now tied up with an international company to increase the reach of our L&M programme worldwide. This is a unique and long term agreement.

    Q. A sports marketing expert noted that the IPL has become more an icon-led rather than a franchise event. This means that if icons like Sehwag and Dhoni do not perform, viewership will get affected as people mainly want to watch icons. Do you agree with this?
    Our belief is that cricket is a team and not an individual game. Although iconic players have a definite rub off on the likeability of a team, this is but limited appeal to start with.

     

    For a more concrete connection with the fans, the franchise must establish itself as a custodian of the values and attitude that the region represents. This kind of association will withstand any player movement.

    Q. If you look at the IPL so far, which three players have been the most value for money in terms of performance for the franchise?
    Every player in our team is a performer and we do not undermine their strength. Each one of them is a valuable asset and we are confident of bringing the IPL trophy home this year.

    Q. On the field, Kings XI Punjab did not fare well in the previous couple of seasons. How much has this affected your brand valuation?
    Brand value is a cumulative total of a number of factors. Our performance last season almost ensured that we made it to the playoffs and this year we are pretty sure that our team has in it to make it there.

     

    We have been able to establish ourselves as a local team; we also have a loyal fan following in our catchment and also have a very huge fan following internationally. We have been growing for the past four seasons and we can only see it growing further this year.

    Q. What strategy was followed during the two player auctions and were you affected by not being able to retain some of them?
    We are very happy with the way the team has shaped up. We have great cricketing talent like Adam Gilchrist, Shaun Marsh, David Hussey, Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla, to name a few.

     

    We believe that we have the required strength in our team to take us all the way. Based on lessons learnt last season, we have enhanced the team strength with players like Azhar Mehmood and James Faulkner. We also have a great mix of experienced and young domestic players.

    Q. What are Kings XI Punjab‘s marketing efforts this year?
    Marketing is an integral part of our overall strategy; it helps us build a stronger connection with our fans. Our efforts are aimed at reaching out to our fans through all possible mediums.

     

    Currently one of the unique activities undertaken by us is our association with Indraprastha All India Sports Foundation for the ‘Cricket Champs‘ reality show. This initiative aims at nurturing youth to develop skills which not only will make them successful cricket captains but also help them in their personal endeavours.

    Q. Is Kings XI Punjab able to do activation during the off-season once the IPL gets over or is non availability of players an issue?
    We are there in our catchment area throughout the year whether through our presence on the social media like Facebook or with activities like KXIP Cup, Rocky and Ranjit Voice Hunt. We have always been doing activities to connect with our fans from time to time. Player availability is not an issue.

    Q. With the Big Bash league doing well in Australia, the debate about club versus country has again raised its ahead given how financially lucrative it is to play for clubs. How do you see things shaping up going forward?
    I see this format of the game with different perspective rather than just the financials. We believe that the club / IPL format provides the budding cricketers to showcase their talent and further hone their skills as they get an opportunity to play with and learn from experienced players. IPL has been a suitable platform to judge performance.
  • Saints & Warriors wins Kings XI Punjab’s creative account

    Saints & Warriors wins Kings XI Punjab’s creative account

    MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League franchise Kings XI Punjab has awarded its creative duties to Saints and Warriors.

    The incumbent agency on the account is Fisheye Communication.

    Kings XI Punjab chief operating officer Colonel Arvinder Singh said, “There was no pitch. The agency called and requested a chance to present their understanding of our business. We were impressed by the creative expressions they brought to the table.”

    The marketing strategy will be decided in the days to come. The media mix for this season will include digital and social media to a great extent along with TV, print, radio, outdoor and on-ground activation.

    Saints and Warriors senior vice-president and branch head Mumbai Sartaj Jaffri said, “We like working with brands that are willing to do clutter-breaking work.”

    The agency‘s Mumbai branch has won accounts like Fiat Motors, Big FM‘s new positioning and Wagh Bakri‘s Mili over the past year.

    Saints & Warriors group head, creative Kshitij Salve said, “We plan to design a campaign that will be a celebration of T20’s spirit of fun and entertainment.”

  • Q Cinemas is Kings XI Punjab official multiplex partner

    Q Cinemas is Kings XI Punjab official multiplex partner

    MUMBAI: The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab has roped in Q Cinemas as their official multiplex sponsor for the upcoming tournament.

    Under this new sponsorship partnership, the Q Cinemas will have their branding on Jersey.

    Kings XI Punjab COO Col. Arvinder Singh said, “We are extremely happy to be associated with Q Cinemas. As a multiplex chain it aims towards providing an unforgettable entertaining experience via movies. Kings XI Punjab also aims to provide memorable ‘cricketainment’ for its fans. Hence, this association is well suited and in synergy with the stated aims of the both the companies”.

    Q Cinemas CMD Syed Salim commented, “We are privileged to be associated with a team like Kings XI Punjab as we identify with its reputation of strength, superiority and consistency. We wish the team the very best in the forthcoming season and look forward to a long term association with them.”

    The existing sponsors of KXIP are Emirates as their title sponsor, Reebok as their official apparel sponsor, USL as their official games for challenge partner, ACC as Official Team Partner, Gulf as Performance & Protection Partner and Wrigley’s as their official chewing gum.