Paytm becomes Official sponsor of BCCI - Dale Steyn takes 400 !!

The world is increasingly mobile: people want access from wherever they are, whenever they need it.  From now on, Ranji Trophy would be known as  ‘Paytm Ranji Trophy’.  At Chepauk,  Australia A finished Day-two of the second unofficial Test against India A in Chennai on 329 for 9, taking a lead of 194 runs. On the first day they had dismissed India A for 135.  Baba Aparajit excelled with a 5 for while Pragyan Ojha took 3.

We are hearing ‘mobile commerce’ more often these days – this phrase was originally coined in 1997 by Kevin Duffey at the launch of the Global Mobile Commerce Forum, to mean "the delivery of electronic commerce capabilities directly into the consumer’s hand, anywhere, via wireless technology."  Many choose to think of Mobile Commerce as meaning "a retail outlet in your customer’s pocket."  Some reports put it that Mobile commerce is worth US$230 billion, with Asia representing almost half of the market. 

Paytm is India’s largest mobile commerce platform. Paytm started by offering mobile recharge and utility bill payments and today it offers a full marketplace to consumers on its mobile apps. Their website claims that they have over 80mn registered users. Paytm is the consumer brand of India’s leading mobile internet company One97 Communications. One97 investors include Ant Financial (AliPay), SAIF Partners, Sapphire Venture and Silicon Valley Bank.

At Bangladesh, Dale Steyn became the 13th bowler to take 400 Test wickets but South Africa's part-time spinners enjoyed most of the success on an absorbing day of grind on both sides. South Africa's bowlers showed more intent and aggression than in the first Test but were made to toil on a slow, dry surface that had been run ragged as early as day one. At Birmingham, England were all out for 283 securing a lead of 137.  The first test was won by England, while Aussies fought back at Lords.

The hot news is that BCCI has sold the title rights for India's home series for the next four years - from October 2015 to September 2019 - for Rs 203.28 crores to ecommerce firm, Paytm, an increase of around 20% compared to last season. With India set to play 84 home matches in the four-year cycle, Paytm will shell out Rs 2.42 crores per match, more than the 2.02 crores that Micromax bid for in the 2014-15 season.

The rights were awarded after the documents were opened on Thursday by the BCCI marketing committee in the presence of the bidders. ESPNcricinfo reports  that Micromax, who had acquired the rights for India's short 2014-15 home season, was the only other bidder besides the winner.

From now on, the domestic Ranji competition will be known as the ‘Paytm Ranji Trophy’. There were only two bidders for the scheduled 86 matches (Tests, ODIs and T20Is) in India during the upcoming seasons as the rights have been awarded for a period of four years till 2019. The bids were opened at the BCCI marketing committee meeting that lasted for around five hours. It is also learnt that the Micromax bid was cancelled reportedly because they had failed to submit proper documents required for being eligible bidders. The base price per match was Rupees 1.68 crore as the bids were opened in the second half of the five-hour long meeting. It is all big money !!

With regards – S. Sampathkumar

30^th July 2015.