Chinese mobile manufacturer Vivo’s tenure as the title sponsor of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has come to an end. Taking over from Vivo, Tata will join the league as its title sponsor from 2022 onwards.

For the unversed, Vivo entered into a multi-year deal with IPL in 2018. The original deal which was supposed to last till 2020 was renewed for 3 more years.

The company had to pull out of the IPL sponsorship in 2020 due anti-China sentiment in the country. Vivo marked its return as IPL’s title sponsor in 2021 but reportedly requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to transfer the existing rights to Tata. The request has been accepted by the BCCI.

Following the meeting of the IPL Governing Council on Tuesday, the decision was taken.“There was a request from Vivo to exit the IPL sponsorship deal and the GC has approved it. The BCCI will continue to earn the same fee for the title rights,” a BCCI official told Cricbuzz.

IPL chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development and informed that Tata will replace Vivo as the league’s new title sponsor. “Yes, Tata group is coming in as IPL title sponsor,” IPL chairman Brijesh Patel was quoted as saying to PTI.

IPL 2022 mega auction was also discussed in the meeting. With the tournament set to expand to 10 teams from its 15th season, the focus is to conduct the auction smoothly.

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“Our entire focus now is on and conduct a successful IPL Auction. We will discuss the way forward in GC Meeting and finalize everything,” said Patel as quoted by InsideSport.

Fans troll Tata after the company joins IPL as the title sponsor

As Tata came onboard as IPL’s new title sponsor, social media did not remain quiet. While some welcomed Tata to the IPL family, others trolled the new title sponsors. Here are a few tweets of the fans that caught our attention.

Tata Namak to Tata IPL we grew up

— 🦥💉 (@dtsaae) January 11, 2022

https://twitter.com/ekAgyaani/status/1480835748613877763?t=A-_Vw0vkUhXeHewObQnNWw&s=19

New IPL title sponser – TATA

Probably prizes would be

Most runs – Tata Nexon
Most wickets – Tata Punch
Best catch – Tata Harrier
Super Striker – Tata Bolt

— Deekshith (@Morgsmudge) January 11, 2022