India’s visionary industrialist, Ratan Naval Tata, took his last breath at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai late Wednesday. When the news of his demise broke, it felt like a personal loss for many, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to other prominent figures who shared their condolences, expressing their sorrow as though they had lost someone close to them.
As the chairman of the Tata Group, he elevated the conglomerate to new heights. However, few know about his incredible contribution to Indian sports. The Tata Group has played a pivotal role in the growth of Indian sports, from setting up hockey academies to putting Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League map. But beyond these efforts, Ratan Tata had a special love for cricket, and the Tata Group did much for Indian cricket as well. This is why many stalwarts of Indian cricket have expressed their grief, as the Tata Group acted as a supporting pillar during difficult times for the sport.
Tata Group’s contribution to Indian cricket
Many prominent Indian cricketers have been associated with the Tata Group, with some having played for various Tata companies. From former India captain Nari Contractor to wicketkeeper Farokh Engineer, they were supported by the group and played for Tata Motors. Players like VVS Laxman, Sanjay Manjrekar, and MS Dhoni have all played for Air India. Even former Indian coach Ravi Shastri played for Tata Steel in the 1980s, and later, Sourav Ganguly captained the team and is still associated with the company. From the women’s side, legendary Indian pacer Jhulan Goswami played for Air India.
IPL title Sponsors
Now, if we look at the cash-rich IPL or, in general, other tournaments, there have been many where Tata Group has been a title sponsor. For example, they sponsored the Titans Cup in 1996 and were one of the sponsors of the Champions Trophy from 2006 to 2008. In the IPL, they stepped in when it was needed most. Vivo, the previous title sponsor, withdrew its IPL sponsorship in 2020 due to border tensions between India and China. Tata Group then came on board and has remained a top player in the sponsorship game. Their trust is so high that they secured another 4-year deal for 2024–28, worth ₹2,500 crore.
WPL title sponsors
The Tata Group didn’t limit themselves to the men’s setup. When the Women’s Premier League (WPL) was announced in 2023, they were the first title sponsor and will continue to be so until 2027.
Hosted first England Cricket team
Not only Ratan Tata, but also Jamsetji Tata, the founder of the Tata Group, was indeed passionate about cricket and played a significant role in its development in India. In 1888, he hosted the first English cricket team to visit India at his residence, Esplanade House, in Mumbai. England came to play against All-India XI. During the 1880s, cricket was relatively unknown to many in India, but local clubs like the Kathiawar Cricket Club were restructured by them. Also, Jamsetji Tata was instrumental in establishing the Parsi Gymkhana in Mumbai, further supporting the development of cricket in the region. This commitment to cricket laid the groundwork for its popularity in India.
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