By Gurminder Singh Samad | SamvadPatar.com

Cricket in India is not just a sport. It is a festival. It is a fever that binds a billion hearts. And now, the name that will travel with every player, on every shirt, in every stadium roar, is Apollo Tyres.

On September 16, 2025, the BCCI announced Apollo Tyres as the new lead sponsor of India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams. The deal is worth ₹579 crore for three years. A record. But this is not just about money. It is about pride. It is about a family. It is about a company that rose from modest beginnings and now stands tall with the tricolour.

From a Small Beginning to a Global Brand

Apollo Tyres was founded in 1972 in Kerala. A company that started small, with a dream of making India self-reliant in tyres. The journey was not easy. Indian roads were rough. The economy was uncertain. But Apollo grew step by step.

Under the leadership of the Kanwar family, Apollo expanded beyond borders. Plants in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Hungary, the Netherlands. A workforce of thousands. A presence in more than 100 countries. From bicycles to trucks, Apollo tyres became a trusted name. A symbol of India’s industrial rise.

The Family Behind the Name

Behind Apollo is the Kanwar family. They are not flashy. They are rooted. They built Apollo with discipline, hard work, and vision. Today, Chairman Onkar Singh Kanwar carries forward that legacy. His story is of a man who believes that a company must serve not just customers but also the nation.

Apollo is not a stranger to sports. It has been associated with football in Europe. It has supported grassroots initiatives in India. But this sponsorship is different. This is cricket. This is India’s heartbeat.

Why Cricket, Why Now?

When Dream11 exited after the Online Gaming Bill, many wondered if BCCI would find a reliable name. The restrictions on sectors made the pool smaller. But Apollo saw the moment. They stepped in. Not as a desperate advertiser, but as a respectful sponsor.

₹4.5 crore per match. Stability for BCCI. Pride for the players. Every time Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Smriti Mandhana or Harmanpreet Kaur walk out, Apollo will be on their chest. A name they can wear with respect.

More Than a Deal – A National Connection

Apollo’s move is not just corporate strategy. It is an emotional connection. For millions of Indians, tyres carry their dreams—taking farmers’ produce to markets, taking children to schools, taking families to safety. Now the same name will ride on the Indian jersey.

And this may only be the beginning. Insiders hint Apollo may look at Indian hockey next. A sport close to every Punjabi and Sikh heart. Hockey, the national game, once ruled the world. If Apollo extends its support, it will not just revive pride but also carry forward the spirit of Dhyan Chand, Ajit Pal Singh, and Balbir Singh Senior.

Stability Over Flash

The BCCI has had sponsors like Sahara, Star, Oppo, Byju’s, and Dream11. Some were flashy. Some collapsed. Some withdrew mid-way. Apollo is different. Solid. Reliable. Indian at heart, global in reach.

As valuation expert Santosh N said: “BCCI may not have got top dollar this time. But they got stability. And they got a name every Indian can be proud of.”

A Message Beyond Sports

Apollo’s sponsorship tells a bigger story. India’s corporate houses are no longer just followers. They are leaders. They are carrying India’s flag to the world. The Apollo name on the Indian jersey is also a message: Indian companies are strong enough to own the biggest brand in Indian sport.

The Road Ahead

In the next three years, India’s men’s and women’s teams will play World Cups, Asia Cups, and historic series. Each match will be watched by millions worldwide. On every broadcast, on every scoreboard, Apollo will shine.

And every time the name is seen, it will remind us of the journey. From a small tyre company in 1972, to a global corporation in 2025. From serving trucks on dusty roads, to sponsoring cricket at the world stage.

A journey of grit. A journey of vision. A journey of India itself.

Who Is Onkar Kanwar? The Man Steering Apollo Tyres

1. Punjab Connection of Raunaq Singh (Founder)

  • Raunaq Singh, who founded Apollo Tyres in 1972, was originally from Punjab.

  • He embodied the entrepreneurial spirit of post-partition Punjabis, who rebuilt businesses from scratch.

  • His Sikh upbringing was influenced by values of seva (service) and Guru Nanak’s teachings of honest work and sharing.

  • He was known for philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, contributing to education and community projects.

  • Adding this makes Apollo’s story not just a corporate one but also a cultural narrative linked to Sikh pride and Punjab’s industrious identity.

2. Partition & Pakistan Angle

  • Raunaq Singh, like many Punjabis of his generation, carried the memories of Partition. He started afresh in independent India, showing resilience.

  • His vision was not only to create a business but also to generate employment and stability for displaced families.

  • Some reports say his early professional networks also connected across borders in Punjab and Pakistan.

  • You could highlight how Apollo today sponsors India’s cricket team, yet its origins lie in a Punjabi family that witnessed a divided Punjab.

  • This humanizes the story and appeals to global readers familiar with the India-Pakistan narrative.

3. Role in Serving Humanity

  • Apollo Tyres Foundation works in areas like healthcare, environment, and rural development.

  • Projects for truck drivers’ health, HIV/AIDS awareness, and village upliftment reflect Guru Nanak’s principle of ‘Sarbat da Bhala’ (welfare of all).

  • By weaving this, the sponsorship becomes more than branding—it looks like an extension of seva (service) to the nation.

4. Sikh Pride & Sports Values

  • Sponsoring cricket is not just commercial—it’s about discipline, teamwork, and spirit, values central to Sikh tradition.

  • Their possible move into hockey sponsorship (a sport loved by Punjabis and Sikhs) can be framed as a natural step.

  • This way, Apollo appears as a custodian of both India’s modern and traditional sporting pride.

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