Apollo Tyres Partners with Team India as Official Jersey Sponsor for Long-Term Brand Building
Apollo Tyres has become the official sponsor of Team India jersey across all cricket formats for men's and women's teams, prioritizing long-term brand building over short-term visibility. The partnership leverages cricket's unmatched reach across India, including rural markets, with early results showing increased traction in car and two-wheeler tyre segments. The company views this as a strategic entry into cricket sponsorship and a culturally significant move supporting equality in sports.

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Apollo Tyres has secured a significant long-term branding partnership by becoming the official sponsor of the Team India jersey across all cricket formats for both men's and women's teams. This strategic move represents the company's commitment to building sustained brand value through cricket's extensive reach and emotional resonance with Indian audiences.
Strategic Vision Behind the Partnership
Neeraj Kanwar, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Apollo Tyres, emphasized that the partnership was strategically designed around three core elements: reach, trust, and emotional connection, rather than pursuing short-term visibility gains. The decision reflects the company's understanding of cricket's unique position in the Indian market landscape.
| Strategic Focus Areas: | Details |
|---|---|
| Primary Objective: | Long-term brand building over short-term visibility |
| Key Markets: | Pan-India reach including rural segments |
| Sponsorship Type: | Official Team India jersey sponsor |
| Coverage: | All cricket formats for men's and women's teams |
Market Penetration and Early Results
Kanwar highlighted cricket's unmatched penetration across India, particularly in rural markets where traditional advertising channels have limited impact. The strategic placement of the brand on players' jerseys, rather than perimeter advertising, has already begun delivering measurable results.
Early indicators show rising traction in car and two-wheeler tyre demand, with positive spillover effects expected across other product segments. This performance validates the company's approach of leveraging cricket's broad appeal to drive brand recognition and market penetration.
Marketing Strategy and Competitive Positioning
Udyan Ghai, Group Head of Marketing, explained that the sponsorship underwent evaluation through both short-term and long-term strategic lenses. The partnership represents Apollo's bold entry into cricket sponsorship, a space traditionally dominated by established competitors.
The company's marketing strategy focuses on:
- Driving the complete marketing funnel from awareness to purchase
- Leveraging cricket's emotional connection with consumers
- Building on existing brand associations, including the long-standing relationship with Sachin Tendulkar
Cultural Significance and Brand Values
Apollo views the partnership as culturally significant, particularly highlighted when India's women's cricket team achieved World Cup victory during the sponsorship period. This success reinforced the brand's commitment to equality and grassroots development in sports.
The timing of this achievement during their sponsorship period has strengthened Apollo's conviction about the partnership's value in aligning with progressive sporting initiatives and gender equality in cricket.
Historical Stock Returns for Apollo Tyres
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -0.92% | -5.45% | -2.07% | +11.04% | +13.71% | +115.27% |


































