Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT) has expanded its partnerships in India’s premier men’s T20 cricket league to eight teams, adding Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the upcoming season as it seeks to strengthen its position in the country’s consumer tyre market.

The company said its BKT Tyres brand would continue as Official Tyre Partner to Kolkata Knight Riders, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, alongside the newly added Bengaluru franchise.

The move comes as BKT advances its entry into India’s consumer tyre segment, using the tournament as a platform to expand visibility and engage a broader customer base, including commercial operators and private vehicle owners.

The partnerships are structured as long-term arrangements, incorporating stadium branding, broadcast integrations, dealer activations and digital campaigns aimed at strengthening fan engagement.

Rajiv Poddar, JMD of BKT, said: “Partnering with sporting institutions has always been central to BKT’s philosophy of Growing Together with communities. Cricket is one of the most influential cultural forces in India, uniting people across geographies, generations and backgrounds. Our continued partnerships as the Official Tyre Partner under the BKT Tyres brand allow us to connect with audiences in a meaningful way while strengthening our presence in the tyre segment. Through this association, we will further amplify our ‘Elevate Your Drive’ campaign featuring Ranveer Singh across broadcast and digital touchpoints, bringing the campaign’s message of ambition, progress and forward momentum to millions of viewers. These collaborations reflect our commitment to building long-term relationships founded on teamwork, performance and shared aspirations.”

Venky Mysore, Chief Executive of Kolkata Knight Riders, said: “BKT Tyres is not just a partner they are a brand that shares our relentless pursuit of performance. This renewed association is a testament to the trust we have built together and the ambition we carry forward. As BKT accelerates its growth in India's consumer market, the Knight Riders brand gives them the platform, the passion, and the global scale to make that journey count. At Knight Riders Sports, we do not build partnerships for visibility alone we build them for impact. This collaboration is precisely that: two performance-driven organisations, aligned in purpose, investing in a future they intend to win together.”

Rajesh Menon, Chief Executive of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said: “Royal Challengers Bengaluru is proud to welcome BKT Tyres as our Official Tyre Partner. At RCB, we believe in pushing boundaries, embracing ambition, and creating meaningful connections with our fans, values that closely align with BKT’s ‘Elevate Your Drive’ philosophy. Together, we aim to accelerate our shared vision of excellence, resilience, and forward momentum both on and off the field.”

K Shanmugam, Chief Executive of Sunrisers Hyderabad, said: “We are happy to continue our partnership with BKT Tyres as part of this T20 cricket league. This collaboration reflects a strong alignment of values, bringing together a shared focus on excellence, performance, and consistency. Together, we move forward with clear intent, committed to raising standards both on and off the field, while delivering a meaningful and engaging experience for fans.”

Alok Chitre, Chief Operating Officer of Rajasthan Royals, said: “We are delighted to partner with BKT Tyres for the sixth year, with a shared energy and drive for performance that continues to strengthen our association. Their commitment to sport, and cricket specifically, reflects a clear focus on the growth of the game and its fan ecosystem in India. As we advance in scale and influence, we look forward to building on this partnership in a meaningful way this year as well.”

A Mumbai Indians spokesperson said: “BKT Tyres has been a valued long-term partner of Mumbai Indians, and this continued partnership reflects a shared commitment to consistency and performance. We look forward to building on this partnership through the season.”

Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Gujarat Titans, said: “Gujarat Titans are pleased to continue the association with BKT Tyres. Partnerships like these reflect a shared commitment to performance, consistency and long-term growth. Such collaborations provide a strong platform for teams and brands to connect with fans across the world, and we look forward to building on this association while continuing to engage meaningfully with our supporters and striving for excellence both on and off the field.”

Satish Menon, Chief Executive of Punjab Kings, said: “We are very happy to continue our journey with BKT Tyres. They have been a loyal and valued partner for the Punjab Kings over the years. Their commitment to excellence matches our ambitions, and it is always a pleasure to work with a brand that understands the pulse of the sport and its fans so well.”

Vinay Chopra, Chief Executive of RPSG Sports Private Limited, said: “At Lucknow Super Giants, we believe that strong partnerships are built on shared values of performance, resilience, and ambition. Our association with BKT Tyres reflects this synergy, as both brands are committed to pushing boundaries and consistently striving for excellence. As we gear up for another exciting season, we look forward to engaging our fans more deeply and creating meaningful experiences together through this partnership.”

BKT said its sports partnerships form part of a broader global portfolio spanning multiple disciplines, aimed at reinforcing brand visibility and consumer engagement.

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HF Group has promoted Dr M N Aji to the position of General Manager – Process Technology, elevating him from his previous role as Senior Manager – Process Technology. The appointment reflects his extensive contribution to process technology and mixing solutions across Asian markets and global operations.

Dr Aji has been associated with HF Group since 2013, leading process technology initiatives and supporting tyre manufacturers worldwide with advanced mixing solutions and technical troubleshooting. Over the course of nearly three decades in the rubber and tyre industry, he has built expertise spanning tangential, intermeshing, tandem, kneader and open mill mixing technologies.

Before joining HF Group, Dr Aji held roles at Satya Sai Polymers, Mold Teck Plastics and MRF Tyres, where he gained experience across scooter, motorcycle, passenger vehicle, truck radial, off-the-road and aircraft tyre segments.

A recognised speaker and academic contributor in the field of rubber processing and mixing technology, Dr Aji holds a PhD in Polymer and Rubber Processing and Characterisation Techniques from the UK, along with MTech, BTech and Diploma qualifications in Polymer Technology. He has conducted workshops and delivered lectures for universities, research institutions and tyre manufacturers in India and overseas.

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Epsilon Carbon Pvt. Ltd. has announced the appointment of Munish Kumar Rathi as its new President and Business Head for Carbon Black.

With more than 25 years of extensive global leadership experience, Rathi brings a strong background in profit and loss management, multi-site manufacturing leadership, strategic planning and business transformation. His career is marked by a demonstrated ability to drive operational excellence and foster sustainable growth across various international markets.

The company is anticipating that his leadership will play a key role as Epsilon Carbon continues to expand its global footprint and accelerate innovation within the carbon black business segment. The organisation has formally welcomed Rathi to the team, expressing confidence in his capacity to guide future strategic initiatives. This move underscores Epsilon Carbon’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team in pursuit of long-term global competitiveness.

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TVS Srichakra has approved capital investment of up to INR 2.2 billion to expand production capacity at its manufacturing facilities in Vellaripatti, Madurai.

The expansion will cover the company’s two-wheeler tyre and off-highway tyre plants, with investment of up to INR 1.1 billion allocated to each facility.

TVS Srichakra said the two-wheeler tyre plant currently has capacity of about 21 million to 23.5  million tyres a year and operates at utilisation levels of around 80 to 85 percent. The company plans to add about 5 percent capacity, with completion targeted in the first half of FY2028-29.

The off-highway tyre plant has existing capacity of about 75 to 85 metric tonnes a year and operates at utilisation levels of 75 to 80 percent. TVS Srichakra plans to increase capacity at the plant by about 25 percent, with the addition scheduled for the first half of FY2027-28.

The company said the investment would be financed through a combination of internal accruals and debt.

TVS Srichakra said the expansion is intended to meet growing demand for its two- and three-wheeler tyres and off-highway tyre products.

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JK Tyre & Industries reported record consolidated revenue of INR 163.84 billion for FY26, registering an 11 percent year-on-year increase, supported by strong domestic demand and volume growth across key tyre segments.

The company’s consolidated EBITDA rose 25 percent to INR 20.89 billion, with EBITDA margin improving to 12.8 percent.

Profit before tax increased 46 percent to INR 10.43 billion, while profit after tax climbed 52 percent to INR 8.60 billion during FY26.

For the fourth quarter, consolidated revenue rose 12 percent year-on-year to INR 42.33 billion.

Quarterly EBITDA surged 42 percent to INR 5.46 billion, with margin at 12.9 percent, while Q4 PAT nearly doubled, rising 94 percent to INR 1.99 billion.

Chairman and Managing Director Dr Raghupati Singhania described FY26 as a year of robust performance, highlighting record volumes in both truck and bus radial and passenger car radial categories.

Domestic sales volumes during Q4 grew 21 percent overall. Truck and bus radial replacement volumes increased 53 per cent, while OEM demand in the segment rose 23 percent. Passenger car radial replacement volumes were up 26 percent and OEM demand increased 10 percent.

The company said growth momentum was expected to continue into FY27, supported by new vehicle launches, infrastructure development and sustained replacement demand.

JK Tyre also highlighted strong traction in electric mobility. More than 70 per cent of electric buses operating in India currently run on its tyres, while the company supplies EV tyres to nearly eight two-wheeler OEMs and has secured orders for electric passenger vehicle models including Renault Duster EV, Hyundai Creta EV and Tata Motors’ Nexon and Punch EV variants.

Its Mexico business, operated through JK Tornel, contributed nearly 20 per cent of consolidated revenue and is expected to maintain growth across Mexican, Latin American and US markets.

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