‘He thought big’: Jatin Paranjape credits Lalit Modi for making Team India a global brand | Cricket News – The Times of India

Jatin Paranjape has reflected on how Indian cricket evolved into a global brand, attributing the shift to Lalit Modi’s big-picture vision and to Nike’s willingness to adapt its approach to cricket apparel. Framing the sport’s modern identity, Paranjape indicated that the combination of ambitious administration and responsive kit design helped elevate Team India’s presence and perception on a wider stage, aligning on-field performance with sharper off-field presentation and marketability.

Paranjape’s perspective on India’s brand transformation

Paranjape’s reflections centre on the idea that Indian cricket did not merely grow in popularity but consciously organised itself as a global-facing brand. He suggested the change was driven by a more cohesive approach to identity, presentation and stakeholder alignment, ensuring that the team looked and felt consistent across touchpoints. In his view, the emphasis was not only on winning matches but also on conveying a polished, recognisable image that resonated across audiences. This recalibration, he indicated, helped the team’s visibility travel beyond traditional boundaries, underpinning a more durable and exportable sporting proposition.

‘He thought big’: crediting Lalit Modi’s expansive vision

Highlighting the administrative dimension, Paranjape credited Lalit Modi with “thinking big” and fostering an ethos where scale and clarity of purpose shaped how Indian cricket was packaged and perceived. He pointed to a vision that treated the sport not just as competition but as a product requiring consistency, presentation and ambition. According to Paranjape, this outlook encouraged a more unified strategy, where planning around events, image and partnerships moved in tandem with the team’s on-field narrative. The result, he suggested, was a step-change in how India’s cricketing presence was positioned to domestic and international audiences alike.

Nike’s adaptation and the evolution of cricket apparel

Paranjape also underscored Nike’s role, noting how the brand adapted to the specific needs of cricket apparel. He indicated that the global sportswear major approached the discipline with a learning mindset, aligning design and fit with cricket’s rhythms while supporting a cohesive visual identity for the team. By tailoring its approach rather than applying a generic template, Nike’s involvement, he observed, added polish to the kit and helped signal a modern, professionally curated brand. This attention to apparel—where comfort, function and recognisability converge—was, in his view, integral to the broader perception shift around Team India.

What the shift signifies for Team India’s identity

Taken together, Paranjape’s remarks point to a redefinition of Team India’s identity that goes beyond results, emphasising structure, aesthetics and consistency. He suggested that an overarching vision at the administrative level, paired with responsive partners, made the brand more legible and compelling to a global audience. The synthesis of ambition in planning and adaptability in execution, he indicated, became a template for how cricket from India could be presented to the world. In his assessment, these elements strengthened the team’s stature as a contemporary sporting brand, aligned with international expectations without losing its distinct character.