Mumbai Indians cricket team fly high on Etihad and Jet sponsorship

Etihad Airways's sponsorship of the Mumbai Indian cricket team is its first high-profile sports partnership in the region.

Harbhajan Singh of the Mumbai Indians cricket team will sport logos of Etihad Airways and Jet Airways this year. Anesh Debiky / Gallo Images / Getty Images

Etihad Airways and its Indian equity partner Jet Airways have signed up as sponsors for the Mumbai Indians cricket team.

Etihad and Jet are the principal sponsors and official airlines of the Indian Premier League’s cricket franchise team. The airlines’ logos will be displayed on the team shirts and merchandise.

This is the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s first high profile sports sponsorship in the region.

“We are delighted to add the Mumbai Indians, the reigning champions of the Indian Premier League, to our growing portfolio of global sporting associations,” said James Hogan, the president and chief executive of Etihad. “As India continues to play an important part in the growth of Etihad Airways, this new sponsorship deal provides an excellent opportunity for us to reinforce our global brand in India and cement our partnership with Jet Airways.”

Etihad Airways sponsorship portfolio includes Manchester City Football Club, the Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, Etihad Stadium in Manchester, the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Harlequins Rugby Club, GAA Hurling All Ireland Senior Championship, and most recently the Major League Soccer in the US.

The opening leg of this year’s IPL will be held in the UAE from April 16 when defending champions Mumbai Indians take on the Kolkata Knight Riders at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The UAE will host 20 games in the capital, Dubai and Sharjah.