Apple CEO’s visit to watch the IPL match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Lions at Kanpur has irked Chinese tech firm Vivo who have this year replaced Pepsi as the title sponsor of the cash-rich T20 league. According to the Mumbai Mirror, the principal sponsors of the league, Vivo did not view Tim Cook’s visit favourably. Apple is viewed as competition by the mobile phone brand and they viewed the publicity given to the Apple CEO as ambush marketing by Apple.
Vivo are paying around Rs.85 crore a year to sponsor the IPL and were not happy with the attention received by Tim Cook during his visit. The Apple CEO was trending on social media and commentators were repeatedly mentioning his name as the Apple boss as he sat with IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla and actor Sanjay Dutt to watch the match.
Also read: Apple CEO makes surprise visit to IPL match
The IPL chairman later clarified that he himself had invited the Apple CEO by posting on his twitter account:
Inspite of the reported displeasure on Vivo’s part, the BCCI denied receiving any official communication from Vivo regarding the issue. BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke also said, “I have not received any letter from Vivo. We will look into the matter if I receive one. I was not the secretary when it happened.”
Cook hooked on to cricket
According to DNA, Cook told the official broadcaster, Sony, “It is tough to watch the game in this heat but I have never felt anything like this before. I see how important cricket is, how important sport is. It is incredible. I am already hooked on to it.”
Tim Cook also spoke about Apple’s interest in India, “India is hugely important. It is a great market place. India has an incredible future ahead. I am very optimistic.”
The IPL boss also commented on Cook’s visit saying, “It is a great achievement for us that he has come all the way to watch the game. We are using his (Apple's) technology even in our domestic cricket.”
The IPL is in its knockout stages now as the Kolkata Knight Riders face the Sunrisers Hyderabad in an eliminator. The winner of this clash would face the Gujarat Lions for a place in the final against RCB.
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