Global entertainment brand Pokémon has become an official partner of Mumbai Indians for the 2024 IPL season. Pikachu, the most well-known and loved Pokémon, has been present at the Pokémon booth in the Wankhede stadium to show support for the team and interact with visitors at the venue.
The Pokémon booth has welcomed more than 34,000 visitors over the four home games held so far. Fans met Pikachu, took pictures around the booth, and received freebies designed specifically for the event showing Pikachu wearing the Mumbai Indians jersey. Pikachu will continue to make an appearance at the booth for the remaining home matches as well.
The Pokémon Company corporate officer Susumu Fukunaga said, “Cricket is the most popular sport in India and getting a chance to showcase Pokémon at the famous Wankhede Stadium in collaboration with the Mumbai Indians has enabled us to highlight Pokémon’s presence to a wide variety of audience.”
A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said, “We’re thrilled to welcome Pokémon as a partner of the Mumbai Indians Family, providing them with a platform to connect and celebrate the shared passion that both MI and our paltan (Mumbai Indians’ fans) have for cricket and Pokémon.”
As part of its marketing strategy, The Pokémon Company announced plans to hold two Instagram campaigns in which participants who follow their account, leave a comment and tag their friends stand a chance to win tickets to one of the remaining home matches or special MI-design jerseys. The Match Ticket Giveaway campaign will be held from 18 to 22 April where three winners (one for each match) from all the participants who meet campaign regulations will receive five tickets each. The Mumbai Indians Jersey Giveaway campaign will run from 25 April to 13 May. Three participants who meet all campaign regulations will win a Mumbai Indians Jersey each. Details of the campaigns are available on Pokémon India’s official website.
Pokémon and Mumbai Indians will also share videos on their Instagram accounts showing members of the team interacting with Pikachu.
Match schedule:
- Friday, 3 May, 7:30 pm – Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders
- Monday, 6 May, 7:30 pm – Mumbai Indians vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Friday, 17 May, 7:30 pm – Mumbai Indians vs. Lucknow Super Giants
