A sharp fall in Tata Sons’ consolidated profit has put the IPL’s current title sponsor at the centre of an unusual pattern surrounding companies that have held the tournament’s naming rights. According to a report by Free Press Journal, Tata’s latest financial pressures have revived discussion of the so-called “IPL sponsor curse” after previous title sponsors DLF, Pepsi, Vivo and Dream11 encountered business, sponsorship, regulatory or geopolitical setbacks of their own.
The pattern does not establish any connection between IPL sponsorship and the difficulties experienced by those companies. Each faced different circumstances, making the “curse” a popular framing around the history of one of cricket’s most prominent sponsorship properties rather than a causal relationship.
Tata Sons profit falls to five-year low
Tata Sons’ consolidated net profit dropped 35.7% to ₹17,923 crore (approx. US$1.87 billion) in FY26, its lowest level in five years.
Losses at Air India, Tata Digital, Tata Electronics and Agratas weighed on earnings. Air India recorded a net loss of ₹22,238 crore (approx. US$2.32 billion) during FY26, more than double its loss in the previous financial year.
Those results are central to Free Press Journal’s comparison of Tata with previous IPL title sponsors. Tata has held the tournament’s naming rights since 2022 and has extended its agreement through 2028, meaning its current financial challenges are unfolding during a long-term commercial association with the league.
IPL title rights have a turbulent corporate history
DLF became the IPL’s inaugural title sponsor when the competition launched in 2008 and retained the rights through 2012. The real estate company later stepped away from the sponsorship while dealing with business challenges including debt and weaker sales.
Pepsi succeeded DLF in 2013 under a five-year agreement but ended the deal before completing its original term after the IPL was hit by a spot-fixing and betting controversy.
Vivo became title sponsor in 2016 and later secured a larger agreement, before its association was interrupted by geopolitical developments. The Chinese smartphone company withdrew from the 2020 season amid heightened India-China tensions, opening the door for Dream11 to become title sponsor for that edition.
Vivo returned for the 2021 IPL before Tata assumed the rights from 2022.
Dream11’s subsequent sponsorship difficulties involved a different commercial relationship. The company later served as the BCCI’s chief sponsor before exiting its sponsorship of the Indian national team following the introduction of legislation in India banning real-money online games.
The setbacks therefore varied significantly in both their nature and timing, despite involving companies that have occupied the IPL’s most prominent sponsorship position.
Tata also faces separate governance dispute
According to a September 17 statement from Tata Trusts, which owns about 66% of Tata Sons, the Trusts opposed a move to reappoint N. Chandrasekaran as Tata Sons Chairman beyond the end of his current tenure on February 20, 2027. Tata Trusts maintains that the proposed reappointment is invalid under Tata Sons’ Articles of Association.
The governance disagreement is separate from Tata Sons’ financial performance. The pressures identified as weighing on FY26 earnings were losses at Air India, Tata Digital, Tata Electronics and Agratas.
Tata remains IPL title sponsor through 2028
Unlike some earlier sponsorship disruptions, Tata’s IPL agreement remains in place despite the current pressures across the group. Its title sponsorship is scheduled to continue through 2028.
The 35.7% decline in Tata Sons’ consolidated net profit has nevertheless supplied the latest development behind the recurring “IPL sponsor curse” narrative, adding Tata to the list of title sponsors whose association with the competition has overlapped with significant challenges elsewhere in their businesses or sponsorship portfolios.
