The South African cricket board, Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled a new partnership with Crunchyroll, a global leader in anime.
As part of the deal, the brand has become the associate team sponsor of the Proteas for their series in India, taking place from 14 November to 19 December. As part of the collaboration, Crunchyroll’s branding will be prominently displayed on the back of the Proteas men’s team shirts in all formats (Test, ODI, and T20).
This marks a substantial growth in Crunchyroll’s global sports footprint, bringing the brand to one of cricket’s most important international arenas.
This agreement adds to Crunchyroll’s growing involvement in international sports. Anime and cricket both spawn fervent fandoms steeped in emotion, drama, and unique storytelling. They build a relationship that crosses borders, joining admirers from India, South Africa, and beyond.
CSA Chief Executive Officer, Pholetsi Moseki, said, “CSA takes pride in welcoming Crunchyroll as the official team sponsor for the upcoming India Series. With anime becoming one of the world’s most dominant entertainment forces, soon to have over a billion viewers, we see this partnership as a celebration of shared values and a drive to connect with global audiences.”
Kartik Gandhi, Senior Vice President, Growth & Planning at Crunchyroll, said, “We’re thrilled to partner with Cricket South Africa for this exciting series with India. Cricket and anime both capture the intensity of competition and the joy of shared fandom. This partnership strengthens our ongoing focus on bringing together the worlds of sports and anime — combining the spirit of anime with cricket across two dynamic markets with growing anime fandoms: India and South Africa.”
India and South Africa will face off in an intriguing all-format series during the 2025 India tour, which runs from mid-November to mid-December. The tour includes two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is, with matches scheduled in Kolkata, Ranchi, Dharamsala, and Ahmedabad and more. South Africa will rely on players such as Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj to end their long wait for a Test series victory in India since 2000, while India’s rising guns Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal hope to maintain their domination at home. The series promises high-intensity cricket as both nations prepare for important ICC competitions ahead.
