Usha International has announced a new sponsorship deal with the Women’s Premier League (WPL) team, Mumbai Indians (MI) for the inaugural season.
The company has a long-standing relationship with MI Emirates and Mumbai’s Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, which dates back over ten years.
The tournament will start on March 4 and consist of 20 league games, a playoff, and a final on March 26. The first fixture will be played at the DY Patil Stadium between Gujarat Giants (GG) and the Harmanpeet Kaur-led side.
The women’s MI players’ leading side caps and helmets will display the Usha International logo as a part of the affiliation. The partnership will aid the company in broadening its horizons and strengthening its connections with customers around the world.
Commenting on the association, Ms Komal Mehra, Head – Sports Initiatives and Associations, Usha International, said, “With the focus on women’s cricket peaking, having a major cricketing event like this in the country is a huge step in the right direction. It catapults them into the limelight, making them the perfect role models for the younger generations, ensuring they know there are equal opportunities. As a brand, Usha advocates an active and healthy lifestyle and has been associated with the MI men’s team for over a decade, so extending our partnership to the women’s team is a reiteration of our faith in what the team, and the brand, stand for. Besides, Usha has been supporting sports for inclusivity even at the grassroots, so associating with cricketing league for women made perfect sense, and is a move is to reinforce and reinstate equal opportunity platforms for all genders.
“Further, it is also a great opportunity to solidify our engagement with consumers in a truly innovative manner. We are excited to begin a new chapter as they play for the first-ever championship title.”
Speaking on the partnership, the Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, “Our association with Usha International for over a decade shows the value and impact both of us have had on each other’s brand journey. They have stood by us unwavering in their support and now to see the partnership growing to 3 teams, including our women’s team is a testament to the synergies both brands share.”