Just weeks ahead of the start of the IPL 2020, people have started trending #BoycottIPL on social media platform Twitter. The BCCI and IPL governing council are facing the backlash for not removing Chinese company VIVO as the title sponsors of the IPL this season.

This comes in the aftermath of the face-off between Indian & Chinese soldiers in Ladakh. In the wake of the clash, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps including TikTok, WeChat, Helo app etc. The government also wanted BCCI to end ties with VIVO as their title sponsor. The BCCI and IPL governing council had set up a meeting last month to discuss the same but no decision was made.

Boycott IPL trends on Twitter as BCCI continues deal with VIVO

An official from the BCCI was quoted saying that if the exit clause favours China since BCCI will have to bear the excess costs leading in the cancellation of the sponsorship deal. People want to boycott the IPL since they feel anti-national sentiments are communicated through the VIVO sponsorship.

Meanwhile, this sponsorship started when in 2016, BCCI asked for fresh bids where Chinese company VIVO bid ₹200 crores for a two-year deal. After the sponsorship term ended at the end of 2017 season. The smartphone making company again bid for the title sponsorship rights but this time there was a mammoth increase from ₹100 crores per year to ₹440 crores per year.

In due course, VIVO is to pay ₹2199 crore to BCCI. This record-breaking deal from VIVO has made a 1000% increase from what DLF offered back in 2008 with just ₹40 crores per year. There is a staggering 450% increase since the Pepsi deal and 339% increase from the previous title sponsorship deal by VIVO.

Getting rid of such huge sponsorship always has its own consequences. Despite all this, the IPL will go ahead without any hassles in the UAE. As of today, the Indian government has given BCCI the go-ahead to conduct the IPL in the UAE later this year.

Here is how Twitter reacted:

#BycottIPL It seems I'll be not watching @IPL Sadly Money is more important for @BCCI than nation's pride… #bycottchaineseproduct #bycott_vivo

— Abhay Rai (@AbhayRai) August 2, 2020

@BCCI
पागल है क्या हम लोग जो यहाँ चीन का बहिष्कार कर रहे हैं।
नही हटा सकते तो आईपीएल भी वही कराओ और देश भी बदल लो।
सारी चीजों का ठेका आम आदमी ने लिया है क्या।?
देश बदलने की कोशिश में है और इन्हें पैसे से प्यार है।#bycottIPL

— Prakash Singh Dhami (@9726bb5c348a446) August 2, 2020

#bycottIPL#IPL2020 #bycottchineseproduct pic.twitter.com/n6xCtw2ZRy

— WKCmemes (@idioticliberty) August 2, 2020

#bycottipl as it continue the Chinese sponsor Vivo.

— RANJAN KUMAR (@RANJAN2003) August 2, 2020

#BycottIPL https://t.co/cSvCgi2rA0

— Mohammad Salman Sam (@imsalmansam) August 2, 2020

#bycottIPL. @BCCI https://t.co/bkLktRXVjL

— An Indian 🇮🇳 (@trueindian1978) August 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/ujjwal2120/status/1289952779310530561?s=20

@BCCI पहले वीवो से कॉन्ट्रैक्ट रद नहीं कर रहे थे अब दुबई मैं करवाओगे IPL आत्मनिर्भर भारत के मद्देनज़र कुछ भी सोच नहीं पा रहे हो क्या… या फिर आदत हो गए हैं अपना फ़ायदा देखने की.l देश और देश लोगो को भी दयान मैं रखना चाहिए देखने वाले यहाँ खेलने वाले वहा क्या बात हैं #bycottIPL

— ई.शशिकांत सेन (@shas_real) July 25, 2020

#bycottipl https://t.co/PrxAuUw41x

— प्रशांत सिंह (@ps4243) July 24, 2020

आईपीएल भी बैन कर दो.. इसको भी oppo promote कर्ता है.. #bycottipl

— Robin Kumar (@RobinKu47264483) June 26, 2020

#BycottIpl mujhe to Pehle se bhi pasand nhi sab fix hai Dalalo ka game Bc

— Ravi Mangwana (@mangwana_ravi) June 20, 2020