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Tag: Devdutt Padikkal

  • RCB serves sweet Kannada lessons with jilebis in culture-first campaign

    RCB serves sweet Kannada lessons with jilebis in culture-first campaign

    MUMBAI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has bowled fans over with a unique culture campaign that’s as sweet as it is smart. In a bid to make Kannada more accessible to non-native speakers, the team has launched an initiative combining cricket, language, and the irresistible charm of jilebis.

    Long perceived as complex by non-south Indians, Kannada gets a sugary makeover with RCB turning the traditional sweet into a cultural connector. The campaign flips a common online trope about south Indian scripts being confusing by using jilebis shaped like Kannada words—offering fans a delightful way to ‘taste the language’.

    These limited-edition Kannada jilebis are available exclusively at the RCB Bar and Café in Bengaluru from 8 to 11 April. Each pack unlocks a series of beginner-friendly Kannada lessons on RCB’s Youtube channel, featuring popular players like Virat Kohli, Tim David, and Yash Dayal.

    As a bonus, RCB is sponsoring free Kannada classes for 1,000 fans, who can claim or gift the sessions by simply emailing ‘Jilebi Kodi’.

    “As someone who grew up in Bengaluru, it’s really special to see the language being celebrated like this,” said RCB batter Devdutt Padikkal. “It’s not just about Kannada, it’s about making everyone feel at home in the city, and I’m glad to play a small part in helping fans connect more deeply with the city and our team.”

    The campaign has received love from fans across the spectrum for creatively promoting inclusivity and regional identity.

    Kannada actor and cultural icon Shiva Rajkumar shared, “This initiative by RCB is close to my heart. It brings people together, not just to learn Kannada, but to experience the warmth of our city. The campaign is a beautiful way to connect fans with our culture, and I’m excited to be a part of it.”

    RCB COO Rajesh Menon said, “What makes RCB truly special is the unwavering support of our fans – no matter where they come from or what language they speak. This campaign is our tribute to Bengaluru, a city that has embraced people from across the country with open arms. By creating jilebis inspired by the elegance of the Kannada script, we’re inviting everyone to savour the rich culture of our home city – quite literally. It’s a bold and heartfelt gesture to surprise our fans and deepen their connection with the team.”

     

  • Washington Sundar signs on as Anker brand ambassador

    Washington Sundar signs on as Anker brand ambassador

    MUMBAI: Chinese electronics company Anker has roped in Washington Sundar as its brand ambassador. From now, Sundar will helm all major campaigns for the brand across media platforms. The cricketer is also expected to appear in his first promotional TVC for the brand very soon. 

    The partnership between Anker and Sundar will be managed by the latter’s management agency, Whiteleaf Talent. With this partnership, Anker aims to elevate the existing customer base and further reach out to the youth in the country by utilising the popularity of the Team India batsman. 

    In 2019, Anker had appointed Olympic medal-winning badminton player Saina Nehwal as its brand ambassador. 

    Anker Innovation India head Gopal Jeyaraj said, "We are excited to begin our new innings with Washington Sundar as our brand endorser. Anker’s journey has been similar to that of Washington Sundar who rose from very humble beginnings to touch cricketing heights at the International level. We feel that his persona is an excellent fit for our brand. We are looking forward to this amazing partnership and extending our best wishes to Sundar, for the ongoing IPL season." 

    Sundar said that he is happy and excited to partner with a young and dynamic brand like Anker. 

    "Anker is breaking the industry stereotypes, and is constantly evolving with innovative and stylish tech products. Through this association, I’m happy to explore my love for gadgets and extend my complete support to see them achieve new heights," he added. 

    Meanwhile, the Indian arm of German sports brand Puma has also inked a long-term partnership deal with Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal. Sundar and Padikkal have now joined Puma's roster of cricketers that include Indian skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. 

  • Puma India signs Washington Sundar & Devdutt Padikkal

    Puma India signs Washington Sundar & Devdutt Padikkal

    MUMBAI: Global sports brand Puma has signed a long-term partnership deal with two up and coming players, Washington Sundar and Devdutt Padikkal. The duo joins Puma’s impressive roster of cricketers that include Indian captain Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper-batsman KL Rahul, women’s national cricketer Sushma Verma and legends like Yuvraj Singh.

    Considered the future of Indian cricket, Sundar and Padikkal have been punching above their weights in major cricketing tournaments. Sundar’s all-round performance in Australia helped the Indian cricket team clinch a historic away test series win and Padikkal emerged as a ‘find of the season’ with his stellar performance for Royal Challengers Bangalore in his debut Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Sundar, a game changer and Devdutt, a consistent run-getter in the domestic circuit perfectly embody Puma’s ‘Forever Faster’ spirit.

    Puma India and southeast Asia managing director Abhishek Ganguly said, “Washington and Devdutt have displayed remarkable resilience and grit on field that’s led to their meteoric rise as athletes. We have always believed in supporting not just established players, but also talent with immense future potential. We will continue to partner with young athletes, also at the grassroots to give back to India’s sporting ecosystem.”

    Washington Sundar said, “Feels great to be associated with a brand like Puma which has some of the world’s greatest athletes in their roster. Watching skipper Virat Kohli and KL Rahul closely has given me a deeper insight into the brand. Puma adds a lot of credibility to an athlete’s journey and I’m excited to work with the brand in India.”

    Devdutt Padikkal added, “A partnership with a global sports brand like Puma is really a big motivation for young athletes like me. I’m looking forward to a long-term association with the brand.”

    Sundar and Devdutt are currently part of the Kohli-led IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore in the ongoing IPL 2021.   

  • Devdutt Padikkal bats for Eatfit

    Devdutt Padikkal bats for Eatfit

    NEW DELHI: Eatfit has signed cricketer Devdutt Padikkal as its brand ambassador. This strategic association with the Royal Challengers Bangalore star will be for four years.

    Padikkal is the new cricketing kid on the block – a left-hand batsman, who oozes passion and confidence. He started playing the sport at the age of 11 and slowly climbed up the ranks to carve a niche for himself. Starting from 2014, he has represented Karnataka state in under-16 and under-19 and India in the under-19 tournaments.

    EatFit co-founder Ankit Nagori said, “It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Devdutt Padikkal to the Eatfit family. This collaboration will foster and strengthen the brand as well as chart new growth trajectories for Eatfit. Padikkal’s unwavering commitment, youthful exuberance and passion for the game will certainly establish a connect with our target audience. His aura is in perfect line with the brand identity we are trying to carve for Eatfit and we hope that our customers resonate with this collaboration. We are excited to work on some fun campaigns with him.”

    Padikkal said, “I am thankful to Eatfit for getting me on board as their brand ambassador. I admire their passion and commitment to transforming the healthy food landscape in India. Their constant efforts to make healthy food cool and delicious at the same time is something that connects with me.”

    The partnership between Eatfit and Padikkal will be managed by the latter's management agency, Flipside Sport. The cricketer will represent the brand in all marketing campaigns for the next four years as the company aims to expand to 10 more cities in that timeframe.