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IPL sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is not only in line for a place in India’s T20 team, he has also become the toast of India Inc. With his bat sponsorship deal nearing its end, several corporates — including some of the leading tyre brands — have lined up to sign him. Sources said Sooryavanshi has become such a hot property that one sponsor has even offered him a blank cheque to secure his endorsement.
With his current bat sponsor offering him a mere Rs 50 lakh per year — and even willing to let him go to any brand ready to buy out his three-year deal — Sooryavanshi is now in the process of overtaking some of the biggest stars in Indian cricket, including Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, in terms of brand value and market demand.
With some of India’s top cricketers commanding endorsement deals ranging from Rs 3 crore to as much as Rs 8 crore per year, sources close to Sooryavanshi told CricBlogger that the youngster has now been offered more than an astronomical Rs 12 crore annually for his bat sponsorship. That is 24 times more than his previous bat sponsorship deal.
While some industry experts believe the figure may be inflated, conversations with sources close to Sooryavanshi confirmed to CricBlogger that serious money is riding on the wonderkid.
Such astronomical figures are difficult for traditional bat manufacturing companies to match. Sources said most bat makers can stretch only up to Rs 5 crore, often with performance-based bonuses attached. It is the tyre giants, such as MRF and CEAT, that are now splurging heavily on bat branding deals.
“If Rishabh Pant who is only playing one format can demand are 8 annually, it is quite obvious that Sooryavanshi has hit the roof with his sensational batting,” a source said.
With the need of the hour being to hand-hold Sooryavanshi through a smooth transition from junior to senior cricket, especially in terms of handling sudden wealth and fame, it is quite evident that he is the new kid on the block — and he is here to stay.
