The Indian off-highway tyre manufacturer, Balkrishna Industries Limited (BKT), has reinforced its commitment to Australian cricket after signing a long-term extension of its partnership with Cricket Australia (CA) and the Big Bash League (BBL).
The renewed agreement will see BKT continue as an official partner of both the KFC Big Bash League (BBL) and the Weber Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), extending a relationship that began in 2018. The latest deal will take the partnership through the 2028-29 season, making BKT one of the Big Bash’s longest-serving commercial partners.
As part of the renewal, BKT will retain branding rights across both competitions, including sponsorship of the BKT Golden Bat and BKT Golden Arm awards, presented annually to the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in the BBL and WBBL. The company will also continue its BKT Big Bash Tipping platform, which has become a key fan engagement initiative for the league.
The announcement comes at a significant moment for the competition following Cricket Australia’s decision to stage the opening match of the upcoming men’s Big Bash League season in Chennai this December. The fixture will mark the first time a foreign franchise cricket league has played a match in India, highlighting the strengthening sporting ties between Australia and India while expanding the BBL’s international footprint.
Commenting on the extension, Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT said, “The extension of the partnership with the BBL has continued to evolve since 2018, bringing us to achieve significant milestones together. Australia remains a strategic market for BKT, and cricket is one of the country’s most popular and passionately followed sports, bringing together millions of fans every year. That’s why we are pleased to continue supporting one of the world’s most exciting cricket competitions through the 2028/29 season. We look forward to building on the success we have achieved together and creating lasting value for our stakeholders, partners and fans around the world”.
Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager, Big Bash Leagues, added, “We’re thrilled to extend our partnership with BKT, who has been such a fantastic supporter of the Big Bash for nearly a decade. The BKT Golden Bat and BKT Golden Arm caps have long been popular with players and fans and a great way to celebrate the world-class batting and bowling across both the BBL and WBBL. BKT Big Bash Tipping also adds to the fan experience, giving fans another avenue to engage with the leagues and challenge their friends, families and workplaces. We’re looking forward to continuing to build on our strong relationship with BKT as this partnership extends beyond a decade in the coming years.”
The renewal forms part of BKT’s broader global sports marketing strategy, with the Indian tyre manufacturer maintaining partnerships across cricket, football, basketball, rugby and motorsport to strengthen its international brand presence. For Cricket Australia, retaining a long-standing commercial partner provides continuity as the Big Bash continues to pursue international expansion and deepen fan engagement across key global markets.
As the partnership enters its second decade, BKT and Cricket Australia are set to build on a successful collaboration underpinned by innovation, fan engagement and a shared ambition to drive the continued growth of Australian cricket at home and abroad.
