ISL became the new title sponsor as MG Motor agreed to a Rs 25 crore deal

MG Motor is set to become the main sponsor of the Indian Super League in a two-year deal worth more than Rs 25 crore. The deal would bring back a major sponsor to the ISL after Hero MotoCorp’s long-standing association with the competition ended after the 2022-23 season.

The final paperwork is said to be in its final stages and is expected to be completed soon. The league could subsequently be branded as the MG Indian Super League, with the MG logo also expected to appear on the competition crest.

The reported deal is also expected to include a car for the league’s best player at the end of each season. The player prize is expected to be worth around Rs 25 crore, adding another element to the partnership, which could become one of the ISL’s biggest commercial deals.

Hero has been associated with the ISL as the title sponsor since its inaugural season in 2014 until 2022-23. His departure left the league without a major sponsor for the next three seasons, making the reported MG Motor deal a major commercial development ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

The new season is set to begin on October 10 when Bengaluru FC host Sporting Club Delhi at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium before FC Goa take on Chennaiyin FC at Fatorda later in the evening. The opening phase will feature 78 matches until January 17.

PARTH JINDAL MG MOTOR CONNECTION

The reported sponsorship comes at an interesting time for MG Motor India, with Parth Jindal recently taking over as chairman of JSW MG Motor India. Jindal has been on the board of the JSW Group and SAIC Motor joint venture since its inception.

Jindal’s wider involvement in Indian football also makes this development noteworthy. He is the founder of JSW Sports, which owns and operates Bengaluru FC, giving him a direct link to one of the participating ISL clubs.

However, there is no confirmed information to prove Jindal’s personal involvement in the reported ISL sponsorship deal. His roles in JSW MG Motor India and JSW Sports simply put him at the intersection of two organizations with links to the league.

ISL ENTERS A NEW BUSINESS PHASE

MG Motor’s announced partnership comes as the ISL enters its first season under a multi-club structure, with participating teams taking on greater responsibility for the commercial and operational direction of the competition.

In the new structure, clubs are expected to play a more active role in shaping the league’s business strategy, matchday operations and long-term growth. This could give teams more control over revenue generation while requiring closer coordination on broadcast, sponsorship, scheduling and competition standards.

The league has also added more commercial partnerships ahead of the new campaign, including data, technology and equipment deals. The 2026-27 season will further expand the reach of the ISL, with a match scheduled in Imphal when NorthEast United FC take on Sporting Club Delhi on November 24.

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