Must Win for India in SA while Star India Wins the Deal

Star India Pvt Ltd won the Indian Cricket Team sponsorship rights for a four-year period, starting 1st of January 2014, till March 31st, 2017. The bid was worth Rs 19.2 million (US$315,000 approx) per match for bilateral series and Rs 6.1 million (US$100,000 approx) per match for ICC sponsored tournaments.

Current sponsor Sahara Groups 12 year long partnership with team India will come to an end on 31st  December 2013. Sahara is currently sponsoring Bangladesh Cricket.

Star holds the broadcast, internet and mobile rights to Indian cricket until March 2018. They are also the title sponsor of BCCI's international and domestic matches till 31st March 2014. Only two bids were shortlisted from of the seven companies that purchased forms for submission. Star and Sahara India Financial Corporation were invited to tender documents.

The legal dispute with the BCCI, concerning the Pune Warriors IPL franchise initially made Sahara not to renew its contract with the BCCI, Sahara who owns Pune Warriors had been asking the BCCI to reduce the annual ownership fee. The issue went up to the court without a resolution and in October 2013  the BCCI terminated the franchise from IPL.

Sahara surprisingly decided to compete for the  sponsorship rights  and bought the tender document on the eve of the deadline for submission. They have even put a higher bid than Star India. Sahara's bid was rejected on technical grounds. Sahara's bid was found to be ineligible as they have ongoing dispute with BCCI.