Mumbai Indians close to signing up record sponsorship deal

Mumbai (PTI): Indian Premier League franchise team Mumbai Indians is close to finalising a record sponsorship deal with Idea Cellular worth between USD 2 and 3 million.

"We have almost finalised the deal. It's the biggest in IPL (so far)," a spokesperson for Mumbai Indians told PTI.

The MI spokesperson said that the deal, if and when signed, would be worth USD two million for preliminary matches played by the team and would rise to USD three million for the semi finals and final in case the team progresses that far.

However, a spokesperson for Idea said it was too early to give details about the proposed deal with Mumbai Indians.

"We are still at the negotiation stage and it's premature to talk about figures", he said.

Meanwhile, the Reliance Industries-owned IPL team is continuing its negotiations with the Cricket Club of India to play all its home matches at the Brabourne Stadium, the MI spokesperson explained.

"We are still in talks with the CCI authorities and the response has been quite positive. We don't want to say anything more at this juncture", he said.

If the talks are successful, MI would play all their seven home matches at the Brabourne Stadium in South Mumbai.

In 2008 their home matches were split between the Wankhede Stadium and D Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.