With
more than half a billion viewers worldwide, the annual Indian Premier League
(IPL) is one of the most hotly anticipated events on the global sporting calendar
– and Expo 2020 will be part of the cricketing excitement, after confirming a one-year deal as Principal Sponsor of the Rajasthan Royals.
The partnership
will see Expo’s logo on the front of jerseys worn by the Royals – who were the
inaugural IPL champions – throughout the IPL 2021 season, which starts on 9
April.
The
Royals are currently preparing for their first match of the season on
12 April, under Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara,
former captain of Sri Lanka, and the leadership of captain Sanju Samson
(India). Their current squad also includes overseas stars
Ben Stokes (England), Chris Morris (South Africa) and Jos Buttler (England).
The
international reach of the tournament will help spread
the Expo 2020 message to cricket fans across the
planet, as Expo counts down to welcoming the world in six months, on 1
October. The IPL broke records during the 2020 season, with
more than 550 million viewers.
With
shared beliefs of innovation, collaboration and optimism for the future, the
partnership reflects Rajasthan Royals’ commitment to act as a catalyst for
change, as well as to a range of social development
programmes, with the ambition of impacting society through cricket.
India is a key
visitation market for Expo 2020, which will feature a dedicated India Pavilion.