EdTech Startup Byju’s Replaces Oppo In Team India Shirt Sponsorship Deal

Byju’s will be taking over all sponsorship obligations of Oppo from 5^th September 2019 until 31^st March 2022. The learning app’s branding will debut on the India team shirt during the home series against South Africa in September.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has approved the deal as its sponsorship revenue will not incur a loss due to Oppo-Byju’s arrangement. However, even in exit Oppo will not be able to exonerate itself fully from its record-breaking US$157m deal as Byju’s has reportedly settled for a deal marginally lesser than the original per match commitment made by Oppo, which will continue to bear the burden of the difference.

Byju Raveendran, Founder & CEO of Byju’s said, “We are proud to be the Indian Cricket Team sponsor. Cricket is the heartbeat of all Indians and we are thrilled to be an integral part of our much-loved team. As a learning company, Byju’s has always recognised the critical role that sport plays in a child’s development. Just as cricket inspires a billion budding dreams across India, we too as a learning company hope to inspire the love of learning in every child’s heart.”

Byju’s, valued at US$5.75b, after its recently-concluded funding round, has recently been among the brands to back cricket in the past two years. Prior to this deal, Byju’s had invested slightly over US$4.2m across Asia, particularly India (90.5%) and Sri Lanka (9.5%), for its category since Q317, giving it a mere 0.8% market share. While investment has dipped by almost 2.4x from its spend of almost US$1.7m in the first half of 2018 to US$750k in the first half of this year, however, the major deal with Team India is certain to boost figures in the next few quarters.