Indian captain Shubman Gill, who delivered an outstanding performance in the Edgbaston Test, could face serious trouble, potentially causing a ₹250 crore loss to the Indian board.
Gill scored a total of 430 runs in both innings of the second Test, including 269 in the first and 161 in the second, leading India to victory with his exceptional batting. However, during India’s second innings, when the team declared at 427/6, Gill returned to the field from the pavilion wearing Nike tights, violating the BCCI’s sponsorship agreement.
Notably, the BCCI’s current kit sponsor is Adidas, and all players are required to use only Adidas clothing or equipment. Gill’s appearance in a Nike product could jeopardize the ₹250 crore agreement with Adidas. This agreement, effective from 2023 to March 2028, makes Gill’s action a breach of contract.
Will Adidas terminate the agreement?
Legally, Adidas has the right to terminate the contract and seek damages due to the violation of sponsorship terms. However, since the BCCI is the world’s richest cricket board, this partnership is also lucrative for Adidas. It is likely that Adidas will issue a warning to the board and player to resolve the matter. Whereas, BCCI is expected to issue a notice to Shubman Gill, asking him to provide an explanation.