Have you ever found yourself asking the question why do different batsmen use bats with different names or stickers e.g. Sachin’s bat had MRF, but Azhar’s one had Reebok? Do you know that all the names that appear on the bat are not always the manufacturer’s? Well, whether you have found the answers to those questions or are thinking about them for the first time, this article will tell you about how the MRF Cricket Bat came to be and gained so much popularity over the years.
The Branding of Cricket Bats
Cricket, being introduced to the world by England, has been considered a symbol of class & status. Ever since the game was introduced in the subcontinent, it became a part of the elite class; although, with time, cricket has taken a place in almost every household and it is played by people of all spheres of life today. And this popularity is largely credited to the batsmen who entertain the audience with their mesmerizing performances more than any bowler does. Therefore, in cricket, the importance of a bat is unparalleled!
The bat is the most important equipment, or rather, weapon in the arsenal of a batsman. A batsman is not only picky but also very sensitive when it comes to choosing the right bat that suits his/her style of playing. For a long time, it cannot be said exactly when it started, the manufacturers of cricket bats maintained the process of signing a yearly contract with the domestic cricketer from an early age- as early as possible, at a reasonable price, with the help of former players. Under that yearly contract, the batsman needed to use the logo of the manufacturer on the bat in exchange for a fixed amount of money and a fixed number of bats for the season.
Entry of the Corporate Sponsor in Indian Cricket
Both the parties were happy under this contract for decades- get paid & free equipment for a year from a manufacturer and use their logo on the bat in exchange. Simple, right? Well, it was until the late 1980s when former Indian all-rounder and the captain of India’s first world championship victory, Kapil Dev, signed a contract with Power with a hefty amount of money in it. That contract changed the entire economy of cricket in India, especially, of the bat-manufacturing industry.
Fast forwarding to more recent times, the comparatively more popular batsmen started to sign two contracts- one with the bat-manufacturer and the other with a sponsor to use their logo or name on a sticker to be pasted on the bat. This is how MRF, Reebok, Britannia, and Hero Honda became so popular among the cricket world, specifically in the Indian subcontinent and households, for they signed contracts with the top-tier Indian batsmen.
The MRF, or the Madras Rubber Factory, is primarily a tyre manufacturer who later got into manufacturing sports equipment, especially high-quality bats used by some of the most successful & influential batsmen in the world. Today, it proudly has the names of Sachin Tendulkar & Virat Kohli among the Indian batsmen and Steve Waugh, Brian Lara & AB de Villiers among the international batsmen on its list.
The Aspiration that Comes with the MRF Cricket Bat
The connection between fame & popularity and the MRF cricket bat can easily be explained by the names of batsmen who have already endorsed and are still endorsing the brand, putting its label on their bat. It is very natural for a young, aspiring batsman- man & woman both- to relate to or idolize the most successful or the legendary senior batters who have left a path for them to follow or go beyond.
Therefore, whenever the name MRF is seen on the bats of the likes of Virat Kohli or Jerome Chinia, it is considered to be of the highest class in the cricketing society. And, not to mention, the most popular one too. So, obviously, it gives aspirations & inspirations to the future generation of professional cricket.
All About the MRF Cricket Bat
The MRF cricket bats are easily available on many online shops and also in the retails shops both in the international market and in India. Followings are some of the specific details about the MRF Cricket Bat:
Models of MRF Cricket Bats
The MRF cricket bat comes in a variety of models including Conqueror, Genius, Wizard, Wizard 400, Prodigy PS 100 and Virat Kohli. Each of these types of cricket bat is manufactured with unique design and specific features, sometimes these are manufactured even keeping in mind the specific requirements of the concerned batsman to suit his/her preferred style of batting. The design of these bats also varies between the different models & editions.
Wood Used in Manufacturing MRF Cricket Bats
The best of the cricket bats are manufactured using the Willow as it is considered the superior material and is also preferred by the professionals. It was brought to India by the British during the 1820s. Most of the international standard bats in India are manufactured in Kashmir using the Willow. The MRF cricket bats too are made of the English Willow or the Kashmir Willow.
Profile, Grip & Weight of the MRF Cricket Bat
The MRF bats are very precisely manufactured keeping in mind the preferences of each of the professional cricketers who endorse the brand. The area of the bat’s face used to generate control & power while batting is called the ‘sweet spot’. It is a very crucial part of the bat that needs to be of specific type suitable to the specific playing style. In the MRF bat, the sweet spot is designed in mid-to-low style. This specific type is perfect for playing the strokes.
Along with the Willow, high-quality cane is used to manufacture the MRF cricket bat’s handle for providing the right kind of control and grip on the handle. On the other hand, different players prefer different types of weight for his/her bat. Therefore, it is very important to ensure the weight of the bat suits the player’s preferred style while maintaining the specific grip & design. It can have a profound impact on the batsman’s comfort and ability to play certain shots. That is why the MRF cricket bats come in different weights for the different models & editions.
Choosing the Right MRF Cricket Bat
Over the years cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Steve Waugh, Gautam Gambhir, Ajinkya Rahane, Brian Lara, Sanju Samson, Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, AB de Villiers and Jerome Chinia have endorsed and are still endorsing the MRF Cricket Bats. It is only natural for any aspiring, young cricketer to own the same bat. But don’t forget that it takes time to be the endorser of a high-profile brand like MRF. And also remember, it is very important to know how to maintain your branded cricket bats in the right way.
Now that you’re armed with all these information about an MRF bat, consider the following final tips before purchasing one for yourself:
- Your preferred playing style
- Whether you will be using the red cricket ball or the white one
- The design you feel most comfortable to play with
- The grip & weight you prefer to have in your bat
- Your budget, although it will have to be in the higher range
- Check out some online reviews before making your decision
