Jake Lush McCrum

Indian sports business news last week's Updates 1 Jetapult takes major stake in Saudi-based UMX for $4.5m in an all-cash deal 2 White Gold Money partner with Bengaluru Bulls for this season 3 Telugu Titans securing other strategic partnerships with Lubi Industries LLP and Moo Chuu India also with Bicycle, under Art of Cards, and Pace International, 4 Tamil Thalaivas partnership with MyMaster11 5 Mumbai City FC - OPPO India as official smartphone partner 6 Tennis Premier League partners with VM Insulation Winding Wires and Binnys Jewellery 7 Tennis Premier League media rights agreement with Viacom18 8 Sourav Ganguly - JSW Sports as Director of Cricket 9 East Bengal FC partnered with Ampere EV 10 Pro Kabaddi League - Red Bull as energy drink partner 11 VIP Clothing partnership with Kerala Blasters FC 12 Sony Sports Network to broadcast I-League 2024-25 13 Shillong Lajong partnered with Royal Challenge water 14 India to host the 20th edition of the prestigious Asian Women’s Handball Championship in New Delhi from December 1 to 10, 2024 15 HYROX, a fitness racing event company , announced the launch of HYROX India, a joint venture with Yoska, a Bengaluru-based fit-tech and endurance event company. 16 Wonder Cement Ltd. sponsor for India’s Tour of South Africa, beginning in November. 17 Puma India announces the collaboration of two exceptional Indian women cricketers, Asha Sobhana and Sajana Sajeevan, as brand collaborators 18 The first-ever Kho Kho World Cup will be held at the Thyagraj Stadium in New Delhi from January 13 to 19 next year 19 GMR Group and JSW Group, on Thursday, announced that they would be distributing the running of cricketing operations of the Delhi Capitals IPL (men) and the Delhi Capitals WPL (women) teams between the two ownership groups on a two-year rotational basis. 20 SG Sports, Media & Entertainment (SGSE), part of the APL Apollo Group, has appointed senior sports editor Digvijay Singh Deo as vice president 21 Mother Dairy has announced its official association as the ‘Dairy Partner’ for the upcoming 2024 season of the Pro Kabaddi League 22 Major League Baseball (MLB) is taking another significant step to engage Indian sports fans by associating with Shikhar Dhawan for its highly anticipated talent hunt - MLB HotShots 23 Wybor consumer electronics brand by MEPL Group, announced the signing of Indian cricketer Axar Patel as its brand ambassador 24 Uttar Pradesh Super League (UPSL), will be played in March-April 2025 25 Rainmatter has joined hands with Simply Periods initiative by Simply Sport 26 Patna Pirates renew alliance with League11 #sports #sportsnews

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Indian Sports Industry taking bigger strides this week. Indian Sports Federations becoming more open for growth; >> The @Basketball Federation of India (BFI) has locked in a monumental deal with ACG Sports Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACG World, for a tenure of 7 years. This deal signifies a massive investment of ₹216.3 crores for the 5x5 and 3x3 leagues, with an annual investment of about ₹31 crores. >> KheloMore and All India Pickleball Association to establish 100 pickleball courts in 2 years. AIPA and KheloMore have announced an investment of Rs 5 crore to construct AIPA affiliated 100 state-of-the-art pickleball courts nationwide in two years. >> Tech-enabled sports startup Machaxi has raised Rs 4.8 crore ($580,000) in a pre – Series A Round led by Inflection Point Ventures. The Bengaluru-based company had previously raised $160,000 in a seed round back in 2022 from notable angel investors. The funds will be used to develop technology for user analytics and sports shopping, expand the sports shop vertical, and build the brand. #sports #sportsbiz #india #indiasportsindustry

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Indian sports Business News Update 1 str8bat has raised $3.5 million (about Rs 29.4 crore) in a Series A funding round led by Exfinity Venture Partners, with participation from TRTL, Eternal Capital, and VCats Group, along with existing investors Techstars and SucSEED Indovation Fund 2 Southampton FC on announced partnership with Bhaichung Bhutia 3 Hockey India League (HIL) announced the HIL 2024-25 will feature 8 men’s teams and 6 women’s teams, marking the first time a standalone.HIL player auctions will be held from October 13 to 15. from December 28 to February 1, 4 The Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, announced a partnership extension with JioCinema as the digital partner for season 2, 5 Utkarsh Small Finance Bank Limited (Utkarsh SFB), a leading provider of banking and financial services, onboarding Mary Kom and Sunil Chhetri as brand ambassadors 6 Hyderabad will host the final rounds of the 78th National Football Championship for the Santosh Trophy for the first time in 57 years, the All India Football Federation announced on Wednesday. 7 Sandip Pradhan will leave the office of director-general of the Sports Authority of India on completion of his tenure, 8 Casio India Co. Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of Casio Computer Japan, launch of its ‘Sports for Change’ CSR program in collaboration with Sportz Village Foundation, the non-profit subsidiary of India’s largest sports education organization Sportz Village. 9 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) inaugurated the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. This world-class facility will now be called the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Spanning over 40 acres, 10 Sugar fit, a health-tech startup focused on managing and reversing Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, has onboarding of Sachin Tendulkar as brand ambassador and strategic 11 Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar have entered into a partnership - PMG Sports and global sports marketing company SPORTFIVE 12 Platinum Guild International (PGI) India has unveiled a unique collection of platinum jewellery – the MS Dhoni Signature Edition – under its Men of Platinum initiative 13 Dhoni has now upped his stake in the company, demonstrating his unwavering faith in its potential to revolutionise India's drone landscape.Garuda Aerospace 14 Dhoomimal Gallery becomes associate partner for sixth season of TPL 15 Bengaluru Bulls renew partnership with Surfa Coats Paints 16 Alt DRX partner with Harsha Bhogle as brand ambassador 17 Red Bull joins forces with FC Goa 18 Salesforce - Rahul Dravid as brand ambassador for India 19 GMR Global Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of GMR Group, has acquired a controlling interest in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Limited, the parent company of Hampshire Cricket. 20 Northeast United FC renew partnership with Dispur Polyclinic & Hospitals 21 Mumbai city outdoor media partner Capital group #sportsbusiness

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Everyone will be commenting the Everton Football Club x The Friedkin Group deal today, so I'll be talking about... cricket, CVC and the Indian Premier League India's franchise Gujarat Titans. 🏏📈 The Economic Times announced a few days ago that Indian conglomerate Torrent Group would acquire a majority stake in the Gujarat Titans from CVC at a reported valuation of... $1 billion - for a franchise launched at the end of 2021. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐦 🚀 3 years ago, RedBird Capital Partners acquired a 15% stake in the Rajasthan Royals, one of the founding teams of the Indian Premier League India, owned by Manoj Badale-led VC firm Emerging Media Ventures, at a reported $250 million valuation. That's when I started looking into the economics of cricket in India and being blown away by the IPL's growth trajectory. I read Manoj Badale's book "A New Innings - How the IPL's reinvention of cricket provides lessons for the business of sport" (Mike Fordham thanks again for the kind gift) which describes how after only 12 years since launch (in 2020): ➡️ The IPL is valued at $6.3 billion ➡️ Accounts for over 30% of global cricket revenues ➡️ And over 60% of Indian sports revenues The IPL, established in 2008, is believed to be the only pro league, besides the National Football League (NFL), wherein every franchise is profitable - it also has a salary cap and shares media revenue. The previous cycle saw Disney Star spend $2.6b to acquire the IPL's media rights back in 2017. In June 2022, The Walt Disney Company and Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited (Viacom) won the bid to broadcast the IPL for the next 5 years at $6.2 billion including broadcasting and digital rights. 𝐀𝐧 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 Underlying growth drivers of Indian cricket led top #privateequity firms to invest at franchise-level: CVC invested $670 million in October 2021 to create a new IPL franchise located in Ahmedabad (the future Gujarat Titans), while RedBird Capital Partners became a minority owner of the Rajasthan Royals.   Investment thesis:   ➡️ Massive success of the new IPL’s 4-hour cricket format with audiences now reaching up to 200 million for a single game.   ➡️ Closed league system ensuring recurring and predictable cash flows to investors.   ➡️ Significant media rights potential as mentioned above. 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐭 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐞𝐬?   3 years after the franchise was established, Indian multinational conglomerate Torrent Group has reportedly agreed a deal to acquire a majority stake in the Gujarat Titans from CVC. According to The Economic Times, the Gujarat Titans have been valued at over $1 billion - it could be 1.5x MOIC in 3 years for CVC without potential dividends paid, and CVC could also possibly retain a minority stake in the franchise as part of the deal. 

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Indian sports business news last week updated - June 30 update 1 BFI Announces ACG Sports as the Organising Partner of National Star Basketball League The Letter of Award (LOA) was given at a price of INR 20.6 Crores annually on 5x5 league & INR 10.3 Crores annually on 3x3 league for the next 7 years, a total investment of INR 216.30 crores. 2 Veedol, the lubricant brand under Tide Water Oil Co. (India) Ltd., has appointed cricket icon Sourav Ganguly as its brand ambassador 3 Los Angeles Knight Riders onboard Crickex as principal sponsor for MLC 2024 4 MI New York announce FOMO7 as associate partner for MLC 2024 5 Sony Pictures Networks India obtains exclusive media rights to India tour of Zimbabwe 2024 6 Star Sports renews broadcast rights to Lanka Premier League for 2024 edition 7 FanCode extends exclusive Lanka Premier League rights for three years 8 Gravolite India Pvt. Ltd. partners with Wrestling Federation of India for upcoming World Championship 2024 trials - Gravolite,sports mat manufacturers in India, became the official supplier of wrestling mats for the upcoming world wrestling championship for men & women trials under17 & under20 category scheduled to be held on 24 June in Noida Stadium. 9 NODWIN Gaming to raise its holding in Freaks 4U   European esports co. to 100% via share swap 10 Max Level wins PR mandates of NODWIN Gaming, SuperGaming 11 NODWIN announces BGMS Season 3; on Star Sports 12 Nazara Publishing partners with nCore to launch FAU-G 13 Tech Mahindra Global Chess League to Host its Second Edition in London- The Global Chess League, a joint initiative between the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and Tech Mahindra, The 10-day, one-of-a-kind chess league featuring top players will take place at Friends House, located in the heart of central London, from October 3rd to 12th, 2024 Reliance Foundation & IOA Announce First-Ever India House at Paris Olympics 2024 14 Kapil Dev has been elected as the new president of the Professional Golf Tour of India(PGTI). He was elected after the previous president, H Srinivasan, withdrew his candidature for the President's post 15 The Sport Climbing Federation of India (SCFI) has appointed Dr Rajmohan Pillai as its new president while Sushil Malik is the vice-president. Also, Sushil Kumar has been elected as the president of the Haryana State Federation 16 Indian Poker player Santhosh Suvarna has won his second World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and is taking home a prize of INR 45+ Crore #sportsbusiness

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Mota Bhai at his best 🙌 Mukesh Ambani's JioCinema has just announced a groundbreaking move in the streaming industry by slashing its premium prices to nearly ₹1/day, intensifying competition with heavyweights like Netflix and Amazon Prime. Here's a closer look at their disruptive strategy and what it means for consumers: JioCinema's premium subscription will now start at an introductory rate of ₹29/month, making it incredibly affordable for Indian consumers. With this new pricing structure, JioCinema aims to make premium content accessible to a wider audience, revolutionizing the streaming landscape. Kiran Mani, CEO of Viacom18’s digital division, emphasizes the importance of affordability and accessibility in JioCinema's strategy. By offering a diverse library of content, including foreign movies, TV series, and kids programming in multiple languages, JioCinema aims to become a daily viewing habit for families across India. With the IPL driving significant viewership, JioCinema is poised for exponential growth. Mani predicts that IPL will be the catalyst for JioCinema's success, especially as sports content continues to gain popularity among Indian audiences. Mota Bhai's relentless focus on disrupting competitors and offering budget-friendly solutions has once again reshaped the market. Through strategic partnerships and innovative pricing models, JioCinema is positioned to challenge industry giants and capture a significant share of India's burgeoning streaming market. As JioCinema continues to expand its content library and enhance its user experience, the streaming landscape in India will undoubtedly undergo further transformation. Consumers can expect more affordable options and a wider range of premium content, driving increased competition and innovation in the industry. Exciting times ahead for the streaming space! Stay tuned for more updates as JioCinema reshapes the future of entertainment in India. #JioCinema #MukeshAmbani #Streaming #IPL

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10 Demographic Data Points Every Sports Entrepreneur in India should know like the back of his/her hand. Needless to mention this is specific to the geographical area that they wish to target. 1. Age Distribution: Identify the most active age groups in sports participation and consumption, particularly focusing on youth and young adults aged 7-35. 2. Gender Breakdown: Understand the male-to-female ratio in sports activities, viewership, and fan base, noting the growing interest among female audiences. 3. Urban vs. Rural Population: Differentiate between urban and rural demographics to tailor marketing strategies, recognizing that urban areas often have higher sports engagement and better access to facilities. 4. Income Levels: Analyze the income distribution of sports fans to design products and services that cater to various economic segments, from high-end merchandise to affordable gear. 5. Education Levels: Consider the educational background of the target audience, as higher education often correlates with greater exposure to diverse sports and higher disposable income. 6. Regional Preferences: Identify regional variations in sports popularity, such as cricket in Maharashtra, football in West Bengal, and kabaddi in Haryana. 7. Digital Savvy: Assess the digital literacy and internet penetration rates among potential customers, crucial for online engagement, streaming services, and e-commerce platforms. 8. Occupational Segmentation: Examine the occupations of sports consumers, focusing on professionals who might have more disposable income and interest in sports-related activities and products. 9. Family Dynamics: Understand family structures and how they influence sports preferences and participation, especially in households with children and teenagers. 10.Cultural Influences: Take into account cultural factors that impact sports preferences, such as local festivals, traditions, and historical significance of certain sports in different regions. These data points provide a comprehensive understanding of the target demographic, enabling sports entrepreneurs to develop tailored strategies for market penetration and growth. #sports #sportsbiz #india #data #business

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🇮🇳 The Problems in India’s Sports Ecosystem 1. Limited Exposure for Grassroots Talent Data Insight: Over 80% of Indian athletes at the grassroots level never make it to the national stage due to lack of visibility. Impact: Talented players are unable to attract sponsorships, scholarships, or even access to better training. 2. Inadequate Broadcasting of Domestic Sports Data Insight: While cricket gets 90%+ of sports coverage in India, other sports combined receive less than 10%. Impact: Fans and sponsors miss out on diverse sports experiences, and athletes in sports like football, basketball, and kabaddi struggle for recognition. 3. High Costs of Sports Broadcasting Data Insight: Traditional broadcasting costs range from ₹5–10 lakhs per game, making it inaccessible for most local tournaments. Impact: Domestic leagues remain untelevised, limiting their ability to attract audiences and sponsors. 4. Lack of Real-Time Analytics Data Insight: Only 2% of athletes in India use performance analytics tools, compared to 25% globally. Impact: Coaches and players are unable to track performance and improve their strategies effectively. 5. Cultural Bias Towards Cricket Data Insight: Cricket accounts for 85% of sports sponsorship revenue in India, leaving other sports with a mere 15%. Impact: Non-cricket sports struggle to gain financial and cultural support. 🎯 Problems Faced by Indian Athletes Lack of Recognition: Many athletes feel invisible despite their hard work and dedication. 💡 MegaHit’s Vision: Practical Solutions to Redefine Sports in India Here’s how we’re addressing these challenges through MegaHit Sports OTT: 1. Bridging the Visibility Gap Solution: We broadcast local leagues with international-quality production using multi-camera setups and HD streaming. Impact: Grassroots athletes now have a national platform to showcase their skills, boosting their chances of recognition. 2. Reducing Broadcasting Costs Solution: Our OTT technology reduces production costs by 40%, making professional broadcasting accessible to small leagues. Impact: More tournaments can now afford to go live, increasing audience reach and sponsorship potential. 3. Data-Driven Athlete Development Solution: We integrate real-time analytics into our broadcasts, offering performance insights to players and coaches. Impact: Athletes can refine their strategies and measure their progress with actionable data. 4. Promoting Non-Cricket Sports Solution: We focus on diversifying our content portfolio to include sports like football, kabaddi, volleyball , tennis and much more. Impact: Fans can connect with a wider range of sports, creating a more inclusive ecosystem. 5. Affordable Advertising for Sponsors Solution: We offer tailored, cost-effective advertising solutions for Indian brands , making them easier to explore the benefits of sports marketing. Impact: Local businesses can sponsor domestic tournaments, creating a win-win for brands and players.

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“You fell a little teary-eyed at not seeing your name in that retention list” –Venkatesh Iyer. After being an integral part of KKR’s IPL title win in 2024, he was one of a clutch of players the franchise was unable to retain. Now he hopes his old team will raise the paddle for him at the auction. Excerpts from the conversation: Boria: You had some fantastic seasons with KKR. When you came on the scene in 2021, KKR seemed down and out. And then that fantastic run taking the team to the finals. In 2024, the title win. Clearly, you must be feeling the emotion at missing out on retention. Venkatesh Iyer: I wouldn’t be truthful if I say I am not. KKR was not just a franchise I was playing for. It was like a family, and there are bonds that we have forged. There are some serious relationships there, and I had some fantastic moments with the team. KKR had given me the opportunity, and I tried to make the most of what I got. You do feel a little teary-eyed at not seeing your name in that retention list, but you also understand the choices made. Each one retained deserves to be retained. I do hope that in the forthcoming auction, KKR will see value in putting up the paddle for me. Boria: That was my next question. Would you be hoping that KKR goes for you at the auction? They don’t have a Right to Match (RTM) left, so it would be open bidding. Venkatesh Iyer: I haven’t said this to anyone before. When KKR bid for me the first time, there is no video of it. I haven’t actually seen KKR put up the paddle for me. And then, in the next auction, I was retained. So I have never seen the paddle go up for me at the auction. I have to say I am excitedly waiting for the moment when it happens, and I am surely hoping KKR does raise the paddle for me. It will be vindication of what I have been able to do in the last four years. Boria: Not many remember that after Nitish Rana was injured earlier this year, you were made the vice-captain of KKR. How much did it help you evolve as a player and leader having been given a leadership role? Venkatesh Iyer: Hugely. I still remember Gautam Gambhir telling me that I have been with the franchise for four years, and if I think of something, I must voice my opinion for it will always have value. You feel very good when you are told this. And then, when Nitish unfortunately got injured, I was appointed vice-captain and it was a huge moment in my career. Again, Gautam bhai always said to me that if was standing at slip and Shreyas, our captain, was fielding deep, I should always take responsibility and change the field if I thought so. If I was seeing something and wanted to do an adjustment, I was always encouraged to do it. That’s what felt very empowering. And now, I have to say that whichever dressing room I walk into, be it Madhya Pradesh, KKR or any other team that decides to invest in me, I know I will be a leader in that set-up. Not necessarily the captain, but surely a leader whose words will be taken seriously.

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Profitability is a critical challenge for the Indian sports industry, actually it's a global concern. To transform the industry into a revenue-positive powerhouse, the industry needs to focus on three pivotal areas and turn them into profit making business 1) The training of grassroots athletes 2) The hosting of sports events - Stadiums needs to turn into a major profit centres. 3) The efficient financial management of sports leagues If these 3 areas turn profitable, the industry can generate lot of jobs and business opportunities #sports #sportsbiz #india #indiasportsindustry #profits #athletes #training #stadiums #sportsleagues #finance #management

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Indian sports business news last week updated - June 23 update 1 Odisha govt extends sponsorship deal with Hockey India till 2036 2 Centre Court Capital (CCC), a venture capital firm backed by the Sajjan Jindal Family Trust and specializing in sports tech and gaming, has led led an undisclosed Series A investment round in Quidich Innovation Labs 3 Virat Kohli-backed wrogn ltd offloads 16% stake to TMRW for $15m. 4 Bank of Baroda has signed tennis player, Sumit Nagal, as its brand endorser 5 Tasva, the Indian menswear brand by Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail and celebrated designer Tarun Tahiliani, announces its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the ‘Official Ceremonial Dress Partner’ for Team India at the Paris Olympics 2024. 6 Max Life associated with Star Sports, the Official Broadcaster for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 in India. As part of the collaboration, Max Life will serve as the Insurance Partner on the Cricket Live show during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 from June 2nd to June 29th, 2024.  7 Rohit Sharma has investmented in the fintech sector, edu-fintech company LEO1. Formerly known as Financepeer, 8 CoinSwitch the official partner for the UEFA Euro Cup 2024 on SonyLIV, CoinSwitch will run this campaign from June 15 to July 15, 2024 9 Aditya Birla Capital Limited announced its partnership with the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as the official sponsor of Team India at the Paris Olympics 2024 10 FC Barcelona And Conscient Football (indian partener - property developer Conscient Group, which also runs the Heritage group of schools)  has decided to shut down all its academies in India, 14 years of operations 11 Ludimos, a cricket technology platform has signed Dinesh Karthik, the Indian cricketer, as their Strategic Advisor 12 Ravi Shastri turns sweet and salty for Britannia 50-50- Maska Chaska TVC 13 Siddharth Kedia, ex-CEO of NODWIN Gaming, has joined Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) as Senior Vice President & Head at Jio Games 14 Chotrani becomes the second squash player to join the JSW Sports roster, after the signing of Anahat Singh in November last year. "It's an honour to be a JSW Sports Pvt Ltd Sports athlete 15 CEO of sports at Viacom18, Anil Jayaraj, has quit after a nearly three-year stint 16 Go Digit General Insurance Limited (Digit Insurance) has launch of its latest brand campaign “That's it!” with its brand ambassador Virat Kohli. 17 Neeraj Goyat, a boxer and WBC Asia Title Holder, has been invited to join Big Boss OTT 18 Raids conducted  of a money laundering investigation against “Fairplay”, accusing the subsidiary app of the online Mahadev betting 19 Tynor Sports joins hand with Royal Sportsters (formerly known as Sportsaga) to bring 1st ever competitive Fitness League for Gym lovers by the name of High Performers League #sportsbusiness #sportsbusinessnews

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Dare To Dream, Dare To Sport!! We hear it all the time: "Cricket is the richest sport in India. Cricketers are blessed with fame and fortune." But there’s a big side of this story that rarely gets told. Yes, some cricketers reach heights where they are showered with money, fame, and resources. But what about the millions who are grinding every day in hopes of making it? The truth is, only the cream of the crop enjoy that privilege, while crores of kids, teenagers, and young adults are toiling tirelessly, knowing full well the odds stacked against them. The number of professional leather ball cricketers alone is enormous - likely outnumbering the entire population of many countries. And I am not even taking into account the number of people who play cricket for fun. Yet, in over 92 years of Indian cricket, fewer than 700 players have worn the national jersey. To be exact only 685 players have represented India across formats: 314 in Tests, 256 in ODIs, and 115 in T20s.That’s an average of just 7-8 new players per year. In every city, every small town, every village and every nook and corner of India you’ll find not just young kids but people of all age groups playing cricket. Most of them are just playing for fun, some play to stay fit, some play because they enjoy playing a sport, there can be so many reasons. But the total number is so large, that there are millions of kids out there with a dream of representing their country one day. Most of them have no access to training facilities, no infrastructure, and no coaches. They’re self-taught, balancing cricket with daily jobs, working 10-12 hours to make ends meet. Their days are tough, but they find a way to practice after long shifts. They play because, for them, cricket is not just a sport—it’s a lifeline, a dream that fuels them against all odds. For many in India, sports and especially cricket is a path to dream, even if the chances of success are slim. In cricket, where the competition is so high, the odds of making it are close to 0.00001%. Yet these kids dare to dream, to believe, to keep going despite every challenge. It’s a lifeline—a way to dream bigger, to believe in a future beyond what’s in front of them. In most sports, the road to the top is so fiercely competitive, with so few opportunities, yet these kids continue to push forward. They dream of breaking through, even if the journey is challenging, uncertain, and incredibly tough. It’s easy to be swept up in the glamour and fame of the top athletes we see on TV, but there are millions of aspiring athletes grinding away behind the scenes—the ones who are just as passionate, dedicated, and deserving. This spirit—the audacity to dream without guarantees, the urge to keep going—keeps us alive. It’s this hope, this grit, that defines the true spirit of sport. Especially in a country like India, this is the real heart of sports - Pursuit Of Dreams Against All Odds. #IndianSports #IndianCricket #SportingDreams

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The Khelo India Scheme has identified 2,781 athletes (including para-athletes) across 21 sports to receive support for enhanced global performance. If you're in the business of high-performance sports, these athletes are your primary target audience. Just below this elite group lies a pool of approximately 40,000 advanced-level athletes—a significant market segment if your products or services cater to athletes preparing to reach the next level. Together, these groups form a clear and actionable data set for anyone aiming to support or grow in the high-performance sports ecosystem. If we assume Rs 7,00,000 per annum as expenditure ( only training and not travel) behind these athletes for high performance , the Indian high performance sports market size is Rs 3000 crore. #sports #sportsbiz #india

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Yesterday someone asked me my age, and then followed up with how I find the time and more importantly why I give so much importance to being #fitatfifty. Here are my top reasons: 1. Vitality Surprise: Fitness at 50 boosts energy in ways you'd never expect. Forget afternoon slumps; you can conquer the day. 2. Brain Boost: Exercise isn't just for the body. It sharpens your mind. Want better focus at work? Hit the gym. 3. Goodbye, Aches: Achy joints? Regular exercise helps to alleviate those persistent pains. Say hello to flexibility. 4. Welcome, New Mornings: Mornings become moments to cherish. A brisk workout session sets a positive tone for the rest of the day. 5. Heart Health: Heart disease risk drops. Simple activities like daily walks keep your heart happy and strong. 6. Mood Magic: Exercise releases endorphins. Feeling blue? A workout can be the best mood enhancer. 7. Confidence Boost: Achieving fitness goals, even small ones, builds confidence. It's not just about looking good, it’s about feeling fantastic. 8. Immune System: Regular exercise strengthens your immune system. Less sick days mean more productive days. 9. Family Fun: Staying active lets you keep up with the kids . It's more playtime and less watching from the sidelines. 10. Lifelong Learning: At 50, you can still achieve physical milestones. Whether it's running a 5K or mastering a new sport, the possibilities are endless. So, here's to making fitness at 50 the new norm. Let’s reshape aging, one workout at a time!

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Why You Should Be Hopeful About the Indian Sports Industry? 3 best possible scenarios according to SportsBiznet- made simple for your understanding. Currently, we are a USD 10 billion industry with the potential to grow to USD 20 billion—that's roughly Rs 160,000 crore. Imagine the possibilities: you and I could be driving fancy cars and enjoying exotic European vacations as we achieve this growth for being in this industry already. Countries like the US (USD 60 billion) and China (USD 30 billion) are already there and still growing. So, what are the possible scenarios for India? 1- Embrace Manufacturing and Technology Services: The Indian sports industry could take a serious interest in manufacturing technology services and Sports Science as a Service. The current global export demand for sports equipment is USD 30 billion and is likely to grow. The sports tech industry is another USD 30 billion market that's expanding. By capitalising on these opportunities, we could become a powerhouse fuelling support to global sports growth. This needs a close industry coordination and knowing more about global sports industry. 2- Revolutionise Football: If the football scene in India takes off, with more people following and playing the sport, we could see significant growth. Cricket is a USD 4 billion business; similarly, football could easily become a USD 5 billion market with its immense potential. 3- Shift from Screens to Sports Grounds: If the current generation reduces their screen time and takes to the sports ground, recognizing the long-term benefits of physical activity, we could see tremendous growth. A simple back-of-the-envelope calculation shows that if 2 crore Indians start playing sports and spend Rs 80,000 annually, we can achieve our goal. #sports #sportsbiz #india #growth #opportunity

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Last week's Indian sports, business, technology, science and media News update 1 KheloMore raised $2 Mn in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Clear Bridge Ventures LLP’s designated partner Rajdip Gupta and edtech unicorn Eruditus’ founder Ashwin Damera. 2 Mirabai Chanu partners with Star Cement, cement brand of Northeast India and a growing brand in West Bengal & Bihar, announced its partnership with Olympic medallist Mirabai Chanu. 3 Indian para-archer - Sheetal Devi, partners with Mia by Tanishq 4 Asics onboards wrestler Antim Panghal as its brand athlete 5 Baseline Ventures has signed on 2008 Olympic Gold medallist Abhinav Bindra to its athletes roster. 6 The Union Budget 2024 has allocated Rs 3,442.32 crore ($411.20 million) for the Sports Ministry, 7 The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has given Rs 8.5 crores ($1 million) to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) towards preparations for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024. 8 Kerala Blasters FC ink five-year partnership with FREEMANS 9 Siechem Madurai Panthers renew sponsorship with Melbat 10 Drive Fitt, a member-based gym integrating cricket and fitness, has launched. Co-founded , cricketer Shubman Gill, and others , DRIVE FITT offers high-tech cricket training, yoga, and comprehensive strength, conditioning, and cardio facilities. The flagship facility is set to open later this year. 11 Nodwin Gaming, South Asia's leading gaming and esports company has officially announced Android as the title partner for India’s premier esports event Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGMS) Season 3. 12 BKT Tires has entered into an official partnership with The Hundred, the ECB 100-ball cricket competition that will take the field at various locations across the UK from 23 July. 13 The Global Chess League, a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE, has announced chess-com as its Official Platform Partner Radico Khaitan comes onboard as the Official Partner for the first India House at The Paris 2024 Olympics 14 Lava Secures Official Inbound Sponsorship of Sri Lankan Cricket Team for Sri Lanka vs India Series 15 Spykar Lifestyles Pvt. Ltd. , a denim brand is the associate gold sponsor for the upcoming India tour of Sri Lanka 16 IndusInd Bank Limited has announced the launch of 'Wrestle for Glory' program, a CSR initiative of the bank, continuing the longstanding collaboration with the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS), a high performance Olympic training facility headquartered in Vijayanagar, Bellary. 17 The Indian Racing Festival (IRF) is set to its inaugural night race at the Chennai Formula Racing Circuit from August 30 to September 1, 2024. first night race on a street circuit in India. Over three t days, eight teams will take up the track 18 Odisha revealed it's sports budget - 1214cr follow for more sports business update #sportsbusiness #sports

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Indian Sports Business News Last week Update 1 Raft Cosmic EV partnership with Sourav Ganguly- brand ambassador 2 Shriram Finance partners with Rahul Dravid -brand ambassador 3 Sanju Samson becomes co-owner of Malappuram FC 4 Casagrand launches new brand campaign with brand ambassador Sourav Ganguly 5 Rohit Sharma partners with True Elements to launch a licensed brand 6 Go sports foundation and Rainmater partnered Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO at Zerodha & Rainmatter, stated, “India has sporting talent but we also need to develop systems and processes around coaching and athlete development to make these players truly world class. This needs structured and long-term planning to develop an inclusive & sustainable sports ecosystem in India. Rainmatter is glad to partner with GoSports Foundation and is committed to supporting their efforts to create more athletes in India that all of us can be proud of.” 7 The India office of American Pistachios Growers (APG)appointments of Jasprit Bumrah, New brand ambassador 8 Cricket Kenya sack former India cricketer Dodda Ganesh as their men's team head coach a month after his appointment 9 Kerala Blasters donating Rs 25 lakhs to support families affected by the natural calamity in Chooralmala and Mundakkai. Each goal Kerala Blasters scores means Wayanad gets Rs 1 lakh more 10 Sports Minister announced cash awards of Rs 75 lakh to the gold medallists, Rs 50 lakh for the silver winners and Rs 30 lakh for the Indian athletes who have won bronze in the just-concluded Paralympic Games in Paris.Those excelling in mixed teams events, like archer Sheetal Devi, will get richer by Rs 22.5 lakh. 11 National Basketball Association (NBA), ACG, pharmaceutical solutions, and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), announced the launch of the ACG Jr. NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 tournament for the top U-14 players across India 12 FSDL and OneFootball announced a worldwide.distribution partnership that will see the ISL deliver live streams and highlights to all matches of the upcoming 2024-25 13 Rummy Passion title sponsor of Chandigarh Golf League 3rd edition 14 Yogasana, included as a demonstration event at the 2026 Asian Games 15 The Olympic Council of Asia elected Raja Randhir Singh as its new president unopposed for the term 2024-2028 at the 44th OCA General Assembly in New Delhi on Sunday 16 Nazara Technologies invests in STAN- Nazara Dubai FZ acquired a 15.86% stake in GetStan Technologies Pte. Ltd valued at approximately INR 18.4 crores (US$2.2 million). 17 Gaming and sports media company Nazara Technologies Limited has acquired a 47.7% stake in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of the online poker gaming platform PokerBaazi, for Rs 832 crore through a secondary transaction. 18 JK Super Cement -Jasprit Bumrah as brand ambassador #sports #sportsbuiness

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🚨 The ONE SPONSORSHIP TREND, Brands Can't Ignore in India's Sports Ecosystem 🚨 Digital and social media sponsorships are transforming the Indian sports landscape. Here are 3 key insights from the CEO of KreedOn: 🌐 Over 80% of Indian sports fans discover products on social media. 🤝 In 2022, athletes earned ₹500 cr from #NIL deals, 3x the previous year. 💰 IPL's digital rights value has grown 275% since 2019, now worth ₹3,500 cr. How can brands capitalize on this shift? 3 action steps: 📱 Invest heavily in social media activations & influencer partnerships. 🎥 Create custom, engaging digital content that resonates with fans. 🤝 Partner with leagues, teams & athletes with strong digital presence. The future of sports sponsorships in India is digital, social, and all about authentic fan connections. Is your brand ready? 🌊 At KreedOn, we help brands navigate this new landscape and create impactful sponsorship strategies. Let's connect and elevate your sports partnerships. 🚀 #SportsSponsorship #DigitalMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #BrandStrategy #KreedOn

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