Does the captain still take it all?
Business Standard|December 07, 2024
Over the past four decades, since brands began hiring cricketers for endorsements, the captain of the Indian team has always had a distinct edge and a clear advantage.
SANDEEP GOYAL
Does the captain still take it all?

Brand managers have invariably favoured the captain over any of his team members.

Sunil Gavaskar, India captain in most of the Indian cricket team's outings from 1978 to 1985, was amongst the first to feature in commercials – his Dinesh suitings campaign and his Thums Up ads were trendsetters of the 1970s and 80s. None of the famous spin quartet – Bishan Singh Bedi, EAS Prasanna, BS Chandrashekhar, or Srinivas Venkataraghavan, all Gavaskar's contemporaries – were featured in commercials, despite their equally impressive cricketing achievements.

The 1983 World Cup winning India captain, Kapil Dev, first appeared as brand ambassador for Boost in 1986 or 1987. He then featured in the famous "Palmolive da jawaab nahin" shaving cream commercial. His compatriot and vice-captain Mohinder Amarnath, who was Man of the Match in both the semis and the final of the 1983 World Cup, however, got no endorsement contracts.

This story is from the December 07, 2024 edition of Business Standard.

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This story is from the December 07, 2024 edition of Business Standard.

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