Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), a global leader in the off-highway tyre segment, has further strengthened its commitment to sports and inclusion by announcing multi-team partnerships in India’s premier women’s T20 cricket competition. The company has come on board as the Official Tyre Partner for all five teams participating in the upcoming season — Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz.
The association underlines BKT’s belief in sport as a catalyst for inclusion, opportunity and long-term development. With women’s cricket in India rapidly evolving into a robust professional ecosystem, the partnerships aim to support greater visibility, sustained growth and meaningful pathways for emerging talent in the women’s game.
Commenting on the association, Rajiv Poddar, Joint Managing Director, BKT said: “BKT aligns with sporting platforms that embody equality and inclusion, promoting a positive impact on people and sport enthusiasts. Joining forces with teams competing in India’s premier women’s T20 championship builds on BKT’s established presence in cricket globally and strengthens our portfolio of strategic sporting relationships. Through these partnerships, we aim to play a meaningful role in supporting a high-performance platform that celebrates excellence and resilience and contributes positively to the continued evolution of women’s cricket in India.”
Welcoming the partnership, Rajesh Menon, Chief Operating Officer, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres, a brand that shares our commitment to excellence, inclusion and the continued growth of women’s cricket. Their strong global association with sports and belief in high performance platforms make them a valuable partner for us. We look forward to a meaningful and successful association.”
Sunil Gupta, CEO, Delhi Capitals, added: “We’ve shared a strong association with BKT Tyres in the past through our IPL team, and it is encouraging to see them now extend their footprint into the Women’s Premier League. BKT’s long-standing involvement across multiple sports and leagues globally reflects their belief in building the sport in a meaningful way. Along with supporting the continued growth of women’s cricket, we see this as a strong commercial partnership that creates shared value and long-term opportunities for both the brands. We are looking forward to a fruitful association.”
Speaking on behalf of Gujarat Giants, Sanjay Adesara, Chief Business Officer, Adani Sportsline, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres, a globally recognized brand with a strong presence across multiple sports and leagues worldwide. Their deep-rooted association with sport, along with a clear focus on performance and excellence, makes this partnership a natural fit. We look forward to building a meaningful and impactful association and exploring the opportunities this collaboration will unlock both on and off the field.”
Kshemal Waingankar, COO, UP Warriorz, stated: “At UP Warriorz, we believe that building a strong women’s sporting ecosystem requires partners who share our values and long-term vision. BKT Tyres’ commitment to women’s cricket and its association across all teams in the league is a powerful endorsement of the growth and potential of the women’s game in India. We are delighted to welcome BKT Tyres as our Official Tyre Partner and look forward to working together to further strengthen opportunities, visibility, and excellence in women’s cricket.”
A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said: “BKT Tyres has been an integral partner of the Mumbai Indians for five years, and we are proud to now bring that spirit of collaboration to the women’s game. This partnership reflects our ‘One Family’ commitment to parity and performance. We’ve grown together for half a decade, and we are ready to bring that same belief, energy to this new chapter.”
The women’s T20 partnerships add to BKT’s growing global association with cricket and other major sporting properties. The company is currently the Naming Partner for India’s recent ODI and T20 tour of Australia under Cricket Australia, further reinforcing its presence across marquee cricketing platforms.
Globally, sports partnerships remain a core pillar of BKT’s brand and marketing strategy. Its international sports portfolio spans multiple disciplines, including Monster Jam, La Liga, the Italian Serie BKT football championship, EuroLeague Basketball, the Rugby World Cup France and the United Rugby Championship.
All of BKT’s sports partnerships are guided by a focused strategy to enhance brand relevance and consumer engagement, with advisory support from RISE Worldwide, the company’s exclusive sports consulting partner in India.
