Kingfisher Airlines to be official umpire partner

	The Vijay Mallya-run Kingfisher Airlines is the latest to join the IPL bandwagon © AFP

There is still a month to go for the first ball to bowled in the IPL, but the BCCI-backed domestic venture has already passed a phenomenal landmark: the sponsorship kitty has just touched US$100 million. This apart, the IPL had already signed a media and production rights deal with Sony Max and World Sport Group for $1.026 billion.

Kingfisher Airlines, run by Vijay Mallya, the Bangalore franchise owner, is the latest to sign on with the IPL, sealing a five-year deal for $26.5 million as the official umpire partner, taking the total sponsorship pool to approximately $111.5 million.

Kingfisher Airlines' tie-up with IPL follows a title sponsorship deal worth $50 million with DLF, the real-estate major, a co-sponsorship pact of $22.5 million with Hero Honda, the motorbike company, and beverage partnership of $12.5 million with Pepsico.

"I am very pleased to have Kingfisher join us as the umpire partner in an exclusive five-year deal. Their decision bears testimony to the fact that the DLF Indian Premier League is here to stay and is set to carve out a distinct niche for itself in the international cricket calendar," Lalit Modi, the IPL Commissioner, said in a statement.

As per the latest agreement, Kingfisher Airlines will get branding rights on umpires' uniforms, including shirts and hats during the IPL, along with several other activation opportunities around the property.

The good news for the eight franchises is that they will get a share from the sponsorship pool, of about $7 million each.

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