(Cricket news) With a long-term vision aimed at developing grassroots cricket and providing substantial opportunities for talented players in Maharashtra, the Punit Balan Group (PBG) and packaged drinking water brand, Manikchand Oxyrich, have united to sponsor the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) with a ₹25 crore commitment over the next five years.
Besides boasting a rich portfolio of owning eight sports teams across various sports leagues in tennis, handball, table tennis, Kho Kho, badminton, cricket, arm wrestling and chess, PBG has been providing financial support to close to 60 aspiring athletes across the country in multiple sporting disciplines. Their significant investment of ₹5 crore per season for the next half a decade will enable the MCA to provide the necessary infrastructure, coaching, and opportunities to excel to the budding cricket talents in the remote corners of Maharashtra.
Commenting on the notable sponsorship, Punit Balan, the Owner and Chairman & Managing Director of Punit Balan Group said: “Through our sports division, we want to support athletes from various disciplines and we are happy to support Maharashtra cricket. The state has always been a hub of cricketing talent, and we believe in unlocking the potential of the state’s remotest areas. PBG is supporting 60 athletes independently through our sports division and we want to see them represent India at the highest level and we are committed to supporting them in this process. We see the same potential with Maharashtra cricket under the current leadership of Rohit Pawar.”
Being India’s most modern and comprehensive packaged drinking water, Manikchand Oxyrich has a successful track record of contributing to the growth of the nation’s sporting ecosystem. As part of their association, the Manikchand Oxyrich logo will be featured on the shirt sleeves while the Punit Balan Group’s logo will appear on the front of Maharashtra’s men’s and women’s teams’ jerseys across all age groups and senior teams (Ranji Trophy).
“Oxyrich is thrilled to be part of this mission to boost cricket in Maharashtra. By supporting MCA in its mission to tap into the widespread cricketing potential across the state, we aim to contribute to the overall growth of the sport at the grassroots level,” said Janhavi Dhariwal Balan, CMD of Manikchand Oxyrich.
Affiliated to the Board of Control for Cricket in India, the MCA is the governing body of the cricket activities in Maharashtra. The MCA has played a pivotal role in the development of cricketing talent in the state, and this partnership will enable them to make a more significant impact.
“The deal with Punit Balan Group and Oxyrich will help MCA provide better facilities like infrastructure development, welfare schemes and grassroots development in remote pockets of the state with a focus on talent identification and grooming of young players. Punit Balan Group and Oxyrich are reputed business groups in Pune with a proven track record in sports. They have supported athletes from various disciplines and have helped them achieve their dreams. That was a primary reason we decided to collaborate with them for the betterment of Maharashtra cricket,” stated Rohit Pawar, President of the Maharashtra Cricket Association.
As per the ‘Sporting Nation In The Making’ report by GroupM ESP states sports sponsorship witnessed a growth of 105% from 2021, growing to INR 5907 Cr ($Mn 748). Cricket was responsible for 75% of the total sponsorship spends (ground, team and franchise).
The Punit Balan Group and Manikchand Oxyrich uniting to financially support the Maharashtra Cricket Association is a testament to the rise of sponsorships in Indian cricket that will benefit the next generation of cricketers in the country.
