IPL stars sweat it out in made-in-city jerseys

LUDHIANA: While the cricket crazy country is ready to revel in the excitement of Indian Premier League-season V, this city has a different connection to be proud of during the league. Two of the top performing teams, the Chennai and the Bangalore squad, would sport the kits manufactured in a hosiery unit at Ludhiana.
The fans, however, are still waiting for the merchandise of their favourite teams to hit the stores.
Gaurav Mittal, owner of Kudu Fabrics on Rahon Road, said they have manufactured kits for the Chennai squad and Bangalore squad. ‘‘We supply the order of these jerseys to Reebok. We have made four to five sets for each member of both the teams and are now manufacturing tees for the supporters and fans,’’ said Mittal.
Jatinder Mishra, divisional merchandising manager, said they have already supplied 2,900 kits for the teams to Reebok. ‘‘We are now manufacturing 25,000 tees for fans, which the company would sell during the matches at the stadiums and in showrooms,’’ he said.
The demand for jerseys of various IPL teams is quite high in the whole sale and the retail market. ‘‘Many youngsters come every day to buy tees of their favourite team. We have placed orders with the manufacturers and would get the delivery in a day or two,’’ said Jyoti Bansal, a whole sale garment dealer from Akalgarh market.
‘‘The only factory in the city catering to the high demand of IPL merchandise has been exporting all its produce so far and it would be sometime before you spot these jerseys in the local market. We would get ample supply in the next few days,’’ said Manpreet Singh Bunty, owner of Preet Garments and president of ready made garment dealers association of Akalgarh market.
‘‘I am waiting for the tees of the Punjab squad, as I was told it is not yet available in the market. I have already booked five of them for my group,’’ said Saurabh Mittal, an IPL fan from Kitchlu Nagar.