<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51494638.cms" /> Even though <keyword id="6354486" type="PERSON" weightage="100" keywordseo="Virat-Kohli">Virat Kohli</keyword>, the blue-eyed boy of Indian cricket, lags behind skipper <keyword id="6354832" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="MS-Dhoni">MS Dhoni</keyword> when it comes to his brand endorsements, he is way ahead of Dhoni when it comes to minting money using his weapon of choice, his cricket bat. 
 
Reportedly, Kohli gets paid Rs 8 crore to put a Spartan sticker on his bat, while Mahi gets Rs 6 crore to do the same. It must have something to do with the fact that the ‘on-ground’ Kohli is more valued than the ‘off ground’ Kohli, because the Delhi lad gets an additional Rs 2 crore for endorsing apparel and shoes on the pitch. 
 
"Dhoni, Yuvraj and Kohli are the players who can get merchandise to move off the shelves," the CEO of a large sportswear firm told ET. 
 
The World T20 is in progress right now, and the ninth season of IPL is soon to follow, which is why it’s raining money for the top players of the cricket teams. Brands are going bonkers to sign up new players for kit endorsements, in the hope that the more visible they are, the more positive impact it would have on their sales. 
 
To name a few deals, Puma has signed Yuvraj Singh for around Rs 4 crore for his bat, footwear and apparel. Similarly, Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma will get Rs 2.5-3 crore and Rs 3 crore to sport Ceat stickers on their bats. 
 
"Indian players are paid much more than their foreign counterparts because cricket is the most followed sport in the country," a senior executive with a large sport marketing firm told ET. "However, international stars such as AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle who have a large fan following here, demand big money too." 
 
<a href="http://www.samacharplus.com/images/240115/Virat-full.jpg">Image source</a>

Virat Kohli’s bat earns him more than anyone else in the team

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48263417.cms" />In another major development, Indian cricketer<a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=+Suresh+Raina"> Suresh Raina</a> left Rhiti Sports and has joined <keyword id="2888320" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IOS-Sports">IOS sports</keyword> and entertainment. As reported by Economic Times, Raina, for endorsement deals, has signed the pact for three years. 
 <keyword id="143913" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Arun-Pandey">Arun Pandey</keyword>, cricketer-turned-businessman who runs Rhiti Sports and entertainment manages endorsements for Indian cricketers including MSD, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ravindra+Jadeja">Ravindra Jadeja</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Mohit+Sharma">Mohit Sharma</a> and <keyword id="935097" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhuvaneshwar-Kumar">Bhuvaneshwar Kumar</keyword> and also Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice. 
 
As per the cricketer, he made the shift because he wanted to focus on cricket and commercials simultaneously. "I won't be the No. 2 player in this new company," Raina told ET. 
 Speaking on signing this deal with IOS, <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword> said “I was in touch with Neerav from past few months and we had several rounds of dialogs. I have been observing his company doing very interesting work for Olympic Sportspersons. I believe IOS had all the requisite credentials I needed, importantly they have a passionate and dedicated team who understands the space and comfort that a sportsperson needs”. 
 
Raina, currently has only one endorsement- <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Adidas">Adidas</a>- in hand for three years. More deals with brands like <keyword id="44672" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pepsi">Pepsi</keyword>, Boost and UP-based real estate Company are underway. 
 
Neerav Tomar, managing director and chief executive of IOS Sports said that Raina had been under-marketed so far. Commenting on this deal, Tomar said “I am really excited about signing the deal with country’s premier cricketer Suresh Raina. We were in touch with each other for a longtime and finally we have signed the deal. I am sure we will have a great partnership working together. Raina has been very consistent in all formats of the game and has the flexibility to adapt and play as the situation demands. Importantly from a sponsorship point of view Raina has all the credentials, is articulate, has the ability and is not over exposed”. 
 IOS sports and entertainment, so far, has managed only non-cricket sports persons which counts Marry Kom, Vijender Singh, wrestler <keyword id="10633" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sushil-Kumar">Sushil Kumar</keyword> and <keyword id="157783" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Yogeshwar-Dutt">Yogeshwar Dutt</keyword>, shooters Gagan Narang and Heena Sindhu and archer <keyword id="86231" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepika-Kumari">Deepika Kumari</keyword>. Raina will be the first cricketer client of the management firm. 
 
"Raina's brand imagery has to be enhanced. He has been a little shy of media all these years so a bit of image management will be required," Tomar further added. 
 
The firm is eying an amount of 35 crore for Indian star cricketer in the next three years, the duration for which Raina has signed the pact. 
The business, as per the reports, would come from a mix of endorsements, licensing, merchandising and also setting up academies. 
"A lot of this target will be based on his on-field performance and his getting leadership positions in the future, including in the IPL," Tomar said. 
 
The 28-year-old left-handed all rounder has made 374 runs in 17 IPL matches in the 2015 season with five centuries in 218 one-day internationals and plays lower down the order, giving strength to the Indian batting lineup. 
 
Image: IOS India

Raina signs-up with IOS sports; wants to focus on cricket and commercials both

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/48574583.cms" /> 
World No.1 badminton player <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Saina+Nehwal+">Saina Nehwal</a> is presently on cloud nine! There are two reasons for that, one she regained the top ranking and second the ace shuttler signed a new deal with <keyword id="75489" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IOS">IOS</keyword> Sports &amp; Entertainment that promised her Rs 25 crore in the next two years. 
 
IOS also manages sportspersons such as boxers <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Mary+Kom+">Mary Kom</a> and <keyword id="30474" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Vijender-Singh">Vijender Singh</keyword>, wrestlers <keyword id="10633" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sushil-Kumar">Sushil Kumar</keyword> and Yogeshwar Dutt, shooters Gagan Narang and <keyword id="448306" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Heena-Sidhu">Heena Sidhu</keyword> and archer <keyword id="86231" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Deepika-Kumari">Deepika Kumari</keyword>, reported the Economic Times. 
 Nehwal endorses brands such as <keyword id="380994" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Herbalife">Herbalife</keyword>, Star Sports, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Godrej">Godrej</a>, No Marks, Emami, Sahara, Indian Overseas Bank, Iodex and Commune Builder. She currently earns between Rs 5 crore and Rs 7 crore per year from around 10 endorsement deals, some of which are for digital ads. 
 
Neerav Tomar, managing director and chief executive of IOS Sports, said his firm has been working with Nehwal for the past few years but only on one-off deals. "Now we have signed up to work exclusively with her. She is the world No. 1 now and she needs a bit of management and backing now," Tomar said. 
 On Thursday, she moved to rank No. 1 in the women's singles category of the <keyword id="66015" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="Badminton-World-Federation">Badminton World Federation</keyword> rankings, overtaking Carolina Marin despite losing to the Spaniard in the World Championship final last week. 
 The 25-year-old is now one of the highest paid woman athletes in India. Boxer <keyword id="47387" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mary-Kom">Mary Kom</keyword> gets between Rs 4 crore and Rs 6 crore per year from endorsements and appearances. 
 So far, Saina was managing her endorsement deals herself. IOS Sports had recently signed a three-year, Rs 35-crore contract with <keyword id="14587" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Suresh-Raina">Suresh Raina</keyword>, ending the cricketer's association with Rhiti Sports Management owned by a friend of India ODI captain <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=MS+Dhoni">MS Dhoni</a>. 
 
With her at the top of the rankings again, Nehwal's brand value is likely to improve and so will her ability to charge higher. 
 
Tomar said the deal with her to get Rs 25 crore in two years would depend on her performance at the 2015 Rio <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Olympics">Olympics</a> as well as her ability to maintain her No. 1 ranking for as long as possible in this two year period. "We want to grow both her portfolio and pricing," he said. 
 
(Image: Indiatimes)

Saina Nehwal is acing the ad game too. She just signed a Rs 25cr deal!

<ul><li>Subhasis Beura, Head - Brands and Commerce, BharatPe tells us the thought behind roping in 11 <keyword id="133709" type="POSITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="brand-ambassadors">brand ambassadors</keyword> this IPL season. </li><li>The BharatPe XI team players are seen on the ground, across 7 of the league teams playing cricket. </li><li>The BharatPe XI team includes Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Yuzvendra Chahal and Shubhman Gill. </li></ul>Payment and lending network company BharatPe on-boarded 11 Indian cricket players as its ambassadors -- the highest number of endorsers a brand has associated with so far in our country at one go. The brand is trying to ride on IPL’s popularity. On why the brand decided to choose 11 different faces to represent it, Subhasis Beura, Head - Brands and Commerce, BharatPe said, “Last year, we started out with Salman Khan as our brand ambassador. We understand that Bollywood and cricket finds resonance amongst our target audience. Hence, this year, we have signed up 11 Indian cricket stars as our brand ambassadors. The cricketers include Rohit Sharma, K.L. Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Suresh Raina, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw, Sanju Samson, Mohammed Shami, Yuzvendra Chahal and Shubhman Gill.” Beura added, “The idea of having 11 cricketers as brand ambassadors is to communicate that BharatPe is much more than just a UPI QR. We want to communicate that it is a ‘team’ of products that caters to every financial need of the small merchants. BharatPe’s team of players will promote our key propositions such as QR payments, lending, 0% card machine and our loyalty program to the merchants and help us engage deeper with our core TG.” As the cricket fever is catching up and becoming the talk of the town, BharatPe is also running a contest called BharatPe Premier League wherein BharatPe’s merchant partners can predict winners and man of the match, score runs and win exclusive cricket merchandise, personally autographed by BharatPe XI team. The top contenders of the BharatPe Premier League stand a chance to meet their favourite cricket stars. It is using a 360-channel approach to promote its offers. Sharing the marketing plan for IPL, Beura said, “We will be leveraging the BharatPe Playing XI to communicate the suite of offerings for the merchant community. Staying with the cricket theme, we have launched our new merchant loyalty program to reflect ‘BharatPe=Cricket’, wherein BharatPe merchants earn runs, get cricket goodies and can meet their favourite cricket stars. We have a well-rounded marketing strategy that includes print, television and digital media. In addition to the traditional media like TV, OOH and Radio, we will also be leveraging digital, Whatsapp and in-app communication to make a big impact and connect as well as engage with our merchants.” Since BharatPe is not directly associated with IPL, Beura said that the change in format will not impact brand’s performance. He said, “We believe our smart marketing strategy will ensure we make high impact and get huge returns from the association. Our team of BharatPe Playing XI includes players who represent 7 out of 8 teams and hence, we can expect at least one of our team members to be in action on the ground, on most occasions. Additionally, to make the most of the cricket as well as the festive season, we will be launching our much-awaited brand campaign featuring the BharatPe brand ambassadors. This has been directed by an ace Bollywood director and will help us reach out and connect with millions of new as well as existing merchant partners across the country.” This is also at an opportune time as BharatPe is expanding its presence in more cities. It has designed a fun campaign that will go on air early October. Currently serving over 40 lakh merchants across 35 cities, BharaPe has grown its business by 30x in 2019 and is leading in UPI offline, processing over 5 crore UPI transactions a month (annualized TPV of US$ 4+ Bn). The company has facilitated disbursement of more than 40,000 loans (close to Rs. 250 crores) to its merchants since its launch. BharatPe has raised US$142.5 million till date. The company’s list of marquee investors includes Beenext, Sequoia, SteadView Capital, Ribbit Capital, Coatue Management LLC, Insight Partners, and Amplo.

BharatPe’s strategy to ride on the back of IPL and Bollywood’s popularity

<img class="gwt-Image" src="/photo/51459462.cms" /> India's religion <keyword id="1521" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Cricket">Cricket</keyword> is not ‘the gentleman’s game’ anymore. <keyword id="132949" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sledging">Sledging</keyword> has become an integral part of its history, with a host of infamous on-field spats which range from hilarious to ugly. So much so, some even call sledging the invisible, infamous 12th Man of Cricket. 
 
While there are countless incidents of cricketers of opposing teams going plain crazy, the world would accept the tension’s at a different level altogether when it’s India vs. Pakistan. Some think a fair share of on-field banter is fine, while others call it plain evil. 
 
With India and Pakistan going up again at the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=World+Twenty+20">World Twenty 20</a>, sparks are flying already. Here are the 5 ugliest sledging incidents in India-Pakistan cricket history: 
 
1. Prasad Vs. Sohail - 1996 World Cup 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NAxy6O6uNyI" width="420"></iframe> 
In the quarter-finals of the 1996 World Cup, Pakistan’s openers Aamer Sohail and Saeed Anwar were tearing the Indian bowling apart. 
 
The duo was chasing a 288 runs target. After hitting Venkatesh Prasad for a few boundaries, Sohail sarcastically gestured Prasad to which part of the pitch he should bowl. The next ball, Prasad sent Sohail’s stumps flying, and the rest is history. 
 
This broke the solid partnership, and India clichéd a memorable win. 
 
2. Tendulkar, the Baby God– 1989 Exhibition Game 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kHtoVnHogME" width="420"></iframe> 
It was 1989, and the God of Cricket <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sachin+Tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</a> was at the tender age of 16. 
 
He debuted against Pakistan to face the wrath of bowling legends like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Wasim+Akram">Wasim Akram</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Imran+Khan">Imran Khan</a>. Add to that the heckling and jeering by Pakistani supporters. 
 
The rain forced the 50-over ODI was shortened to a 20-20. After the Little Master hit young Mushtaq Ahmed for two sixes in an over, a haughty Abdul Qadir challenged Tendulkar to ‘take on a man’. 
 
The over ended with 4 Sixes and a Four. 
 
3. Javed Miandad jumps - 1992 World Cup 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WbztwyTn4D8" width="420"></iframe> 
India and Pakistan went up against each other in the 1992 World Cup. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sachin+Tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kapil+Dev">Kapil </a><a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Kapil+Dev">Dev</a>’s aggresive innings ensured India posted 216 on the board. 
 
During Pakistan’s innings, it all began when <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sachin+Tendulkar">Tendulkar</a> bowled down the leg side once. Javed Miandad failed to hit, and wicket keeper Kiran More caught it. Simple an event, but More jumped up and down in an appeal long and hard. The umpire was unfazed. 
 
The next ball, Miandad took a quick double, but More whipped off the bails even when Miandad was in. Miandad didn’t take this too well. 
 
With both ends of the bat in his hands, he did several spot jumps, bringing his knees up to the chest as a measure to mimic More’s appeals. 
 
4. Gambhir Vs. Afridi – 2007 Bilateral Series 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/StDZ-xIXNKg" width="420"></iframe> 
This is few months after the inaugural <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=World+T20">World T20</a> in Johannesburg. 
 
India was off to a great start, thanks to the 68 runs opening partnership of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sourav+Ganguly">Sourav Ganguly</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Sachin+Tendulkar">Sachin Tendulkar</a>. 
 
When <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Gautam+Gambhir">Gautam Gambhir</a> and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Yuvraj+Singh">Yuvraj Singh</a> were playing, a verbal spat broke out after <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Gautam+Gambhir">Gambhir</a> hit Afridi for a four. On the next ball, Afridi collided with <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Gautam+Gambhir">Gambhir</a> when he ran for a single. 
 
The heated argument that followed could only stop on umpire <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Ian+Gould">Ian Gould</a>’s intervention. 
 
5. Harbhajan Singh Vs. Shoib Akhtar – 2010 <keyword id="22687" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Asia-cup">Asia Cup</keyword> Semi-Finals 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F2Lv3bzWLoc" width="420"></iframe> 
After the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=26%2F11">26/11 Mumbai attacks</a>, India and Pakistan met each other at lesser intervals. So when they did in 2010 in Sri Lanka, the intensity was a notch higher. 
 
This was a crucial match for both India and Pakistan. It was going to decide who’ll qualify for the finals of the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Asia+cup">Asia cup</a>. 
 
Pakistan put 267 runs on the board and India was struggling with 38 to win 29 balls and a mere 4 wickets in hand. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Harbhajan+Singh">Harbhajan Singh</a> walked in, and his wild hits gave India much needed fuel. In the second last over, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Harbhajan+Singh">Harbhajan</a> played two dots from Akhtar, and got a mouthful from the legendary pacer. 
 
In the electric final over, with India needing 7 runs to win, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Suresh+Raina">Suresh Raina</a> was run out. <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Harbhajan+Singh">Harbhajan</a> saved the day with a winning six off Mohammed Aamir with 3 runs needed off 2 balls, and roared towards Akhtar. 
 
Note: Business Insider doesn’t endorse the idea of intimidation in <keyword id="6356028" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sports">sports</keyword>, whether it’s through verbal abuses, physical insults or witticisms.

You Searched For "suresh raina endorsements" and got 5 results

Virat Kohli’s bat earns him more than anyone else in the team

BI India Bureau

Raina signs-up with IOS sports; wants to focus on cricket and commercials both

BI India Bureau

Saina Nehwal is acing the ad game too. She just signed a Rs 25cr deal!

BI India Bureau

BharatPe’s strategy to ride on the back of IPL and Bollywood’s popularity

Karuna Sharma

5 most infamous India-Pakistan sledging moments

Saikat Pyne