ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Mumbai: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s whopping Rs.26 crore deal with United Breweries (UB) Group has raised some eye brows in Air India, where the dashing cricketer works as a commercial manager.
UB Group also owns Kingfisher Airlines, which is a direct competitor of national carrier Air India.
A top official in Air India, told IBNS on Saturday that it would be a conflict of interest if Dhoni endorses the Kingfisher Airline.
Though the deal is being seen as an endorsement for only McDowells soda, but a top official in UB said: “It is an integrated deal and will go beyond brand endorsements."
The three-year deal is valued at more than Rs.8 crores per year and the UB Group will activate launch advertisements featuring Dhoni just before the 2011 World Cup that starts from February.
With the deal, Dhoni is now at par with Shah Rukh while Aamir is a bit ahead with a Rs.30-crore deal with telecom operator Etisalat.
Dhoni, who led India to victory in the 2007 World Twenty20 championship, was rated the world's highest paid cricketer by Forbes magazine last year ahead of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar . The Indian captain had earned $10 million last year.
Before the UB deal, Dhoni's most expensive deal was with Reebok for close to Rs 29-30 crore for a 5-year period, which makes it about Rs 6 crore a year.
He is associated with 22 brands including footwear and apparel major Reebok, beverages and snacks company PepsiCo, real estate group Amrapali, telecom company Aircel and Future group's Big Bazaar retail chain.
Mumbai: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s whopping Rs.26 crore deal with United Breweries (UB) Group has raised some eye brows in Air India, where the dashing cricketer works as a commercial manager. UB Group also owns Kingfisher Airlines, which is a direct competitor of national carrier Air...
Mumbai: India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s whopping Rs.26 crore deal with United Breweries (UB) Group has raised some eye brows in Air India, where the dashing cricketer works as a commercial manager.
UB Group also owns Kingfisher Airlines, which is a direct competitor of national carrier Air India.
A top official in Air India, told IBNS on Saturday that it would be a conflict of interest if Dhoni endorses the Kingfisher Airline.
Though the deal is being seen as an endorsement for only McDowells soda, but a top official in UB said: “It is an integrated deal and will go beyond brand endorsements."
The three-year deal is valued at more than Rs.8 crores per year and the UB Group will activate launch advertisements featuring Dhoni just before the 2011 World Cup that starts from February.
With the deal, Dhoni is now at par with Shah Rukh while Aamir is a bit ahead with a Rs.30-crore deal with telecom operator Etisalat.
Dhoni, who led India to victory in the 2007 World Twenty20 championship, was rated the world's highest paid cricketer by Forbes magazine last year ahead of master batsman Sachin Tendulkar . The Indian captain had earned $10 million last year.
Before the UB deal, Dhoni's most expensive deal was with Reebok for close to Rs 29-30 crore for a 5-year period, which makes it about Rs 6 crore a year.
He is associated with 22 brands including footwear and apparel major Reebok, beverages and snacks company PepsiCo, real estate group Amrapali, telecom company Aircel and Future group's Big Bazaar retail chain.
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