Etihad Airways and Jet Airways will be the official airline partners and principal sponsors for the Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL) team, the Mumbai Indians, for the 2015 Twenty20 tournament.

The announcement was made ahead of the Mumbai Indian’s first match against the Kolkata Knight Riders in West Bengal on 8 April.

It will be the second consecutive year that Etihad Airways and Jet Airways have partnered with the Mumbai Indians, which has become one of the largest sports brands in India and followed by millions of cricket fans around the world.

Crowned champions of the 2013 IPL, the Mumbai Indians will be hoping to build on their efforts in the Pepsi IPL 2014 when they progressed to the semi-final stage having played the first five matches in the United Arab Emirates.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Pepsi Indian Premier League is recognised as one of the most exciting competitions in world sport, with the Mumbai Indians its biggest team, so it’s great news for Etihad Airways to be named as the team’s joint airline partner and principle sponsor alongside our friends at Jet Airways.

“We can't wait for the Mumbai Indians’ season to start against the Kolkata Knight Riders and to continue the fan engagement activities, particularly in social media, which were so popular in 2014.”

Following the same format as last year, the Etihad Airways logo will be located at the top of the back of the shirts worn by the Mumbai Indians for home matches and the Jet Airways logo will be featured in the same position for away matches.

Raj Sivakumar, Jet Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “The Mumbai Indians partnership is without question one of our most exciting sponsorship properties and we’re thrilled to work with the team again for the 2015 Pepsi IPL.

“The brand exposure that both airlines will gain throughout the next two months of the IPL will be phenomenal and we look forward to supporting the Mumbai Indians as Rohit Sharma and his team looks to win the title for the second time.”

Akash Ambani of Mumbai Indians said, “We are delighted to renew our association with international brands like Etihad Airways and Jet Airways as Principle Sponsor.  The core values of our brands are synergistic in aiming to delight our patrons. 

“This renewal reinforces the unique value that Mumbai Indians represents and offers to its partners. We look forward to strengthening our relationship across all platforms.”

Among the highlights of the sponsorship agreement will be the display of extensive Etihad Airways and Jet Airways branding and messaging beamed across LED pitch-side advertising and on giant screens in the Wankhede Stadium.