Australia-based graphic design platform Canva recently made headlines when it emerged as the second-highest bidder for the lead sponsorship of India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams. Although Apollo Tyres ultimately won the rights with a bid of ₹579 crore, Canva’s close bid of ₹554.48 crore (₹4.28 crore per game) surprised many.
So why did a design software company show interest in sponsoring Indian cricket? The answer lies in Canva’s growing focus on India—now its fourth-largest market and projected to become the biggest in the next five years.
India: Canva’s Fastest-Growing Market
Canva, launched in 2013, has become a global design powerhouse with over 230 million users in 190 countries, a valuation above $40 billion, and annual recurring revenue exceeding $3 billion. Unlike traditional design tools, Canva is widely embraced by non-professionals for tasks like presentations, social media graphics, brochures, flyers, and even merchandise designs.
During his visit to India earlier this year, Canva’s co-founder and Chief Product Officer Cameron Adams highlighted the country’s importance, saying:
India is already Canva’s fourth-largest market by active users.
It has the potential to become the largest market in the next five years.
The company will continue investing in localized tools and cultural relevance to connect better with Indian users.
Localized Approach for Indian Users
To strengthen its footprint in India, Canva has rolled out several initiatives:
A dedicated Hindi website to reach users in smaller towns and cities.
Daily and weekly subscription plans to cater to India’s price-sensitive market.
Partnerships with educational institutions and government bodies to introduce students to Canva at an early stage.
Plans to use AI-powered design features to support small and medium businesses.
In fact, Adams pointed out that 73% of Indian business leaders have reported improved performance through AI-driven communication, underlining the company’s belief in AI’s role in India’s business ecosystem.
Why Cricket Sponsorship Makes Sense
At first glance, Canva may not seem like a natural fit for sports sponsorship. However, cricket in India is more than a sport—it’s a national passion and a powerful platform for visibility. With over a billion cricket fans, having the Indian team’s jersey branding would have been a massive push for Canva’s brand recognition in one of its most important markets.
Even though Canva narrowly missed out on the lead sponsorship, its bid clearly signals a long-term commitment to India and its intent to become a household name, much like it already is in design communities worldwide.
Sanchit Saraswat 
Jyoti Gupta