Vivo see red over Apple CEO Tim Cook's royal reception during IPL 2016 match

Tim Cook’s surprise visit at a match in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) may have swept the nation off its feet, and made the media go gaga over it, but not everyone is happy with the visit of tech giant Apple’s CEO. According to a report in Mumbai Mirror, title sponsors Vivo, who are said to be paying Rs 85 crore every year for rights, are not happy with the royal treatment meted out to the head of a rival brand. Commentators were heard describing Cook as the Apple boss, with his presence apparently dominating the social media as well. [caption id=“attachment_2796778” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  (L to R): Apple CEO Tim Cook, leading commentator Alan Wilkins and IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla. Photo Courtesy: IPL official Twitter handle.[/caption] China-based tech-firm Vivo, which replaced Pepsi as the cash-rich league’s title sponsor in October last year, reportedly viewed Cook’s visit at the ground as Apple’s ambush marketing. Despite reports of Vivo communicating their displeasure to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the latter did not confirm receiving any such complaint. “I have not received any letter from Vivo. We will look into the matter if I receive one. I was not the secretary when it happened,” BCCI secretary Ajay Shirke was quoted as saying in the report on Mumbai Mirror. Cook, who was in the country on a four-day visit, was apparently invited by IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla himself for the group stage match between Gujarat Lions (GL) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Green Park in Kanpur on Thursday, 19 May.  

Tim Cook ceo ofApple is coming to KANPUR to watch IPL game on my invitation he is most welcome

— Rajeev Shukla (@ShuklaRajiv) May 19, 2016

  During the match, the cameras were heavily focused on the Apple CEO, who was seated alongside Shukla and actor Sanjay Dutt at the Green Park stadium. “It is incredible. I am already hooked on to it,” said Cook in an interview to the official broadcaster during the GL-KKR match, according to a report on DNA. Cook met various politicians, industrialists, celebrities during his Indian visit. He also visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, caught up with popular actor and KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, before heading to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.