CRICKET: Incredible Vivek Keeps Maruti Suzuki Alive

•  Sona Koyo Friendship Cup
  

The jubilant Maruti Suzuki Engineering team

New Delhi, 28 February 2012: Maruti Suzuki India Engineering (MSIL Engg) lifted the Friendship Cup by defeating Sona Koyo Steering System by 4 runs in a nail-biting day &night limited over played at the ITM university grounds, Gurgaon.

The cricket match was played as part of the ongoing silver jubilee celebrations of Sona Koyo Steering System. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd happens to be one of Sona’s largest customer and partner.

 Team members of Sona Koyo Steering System

Winning the toss and electing to bat amid large spectators from both the companies, MSIL Engg’s Vivek Singh was declared man of the match for his splendid bowling performance. MSIL Engg set a target of 112 runs to Sona Koyo in 20 over. Sona Koyo felt short of the target by 4 runs despite the heroics of Avnish Saini who made a quick fire 31. 

Speaking on the occasion Sona Koyo CEO Sunder Rajan said Maruti Suzuki has been instrumental in inculcating competitiveness in Sona Koyo and helped it bring in global best practices in manufacturing to India. Sona looks forward to many more such interactions in the future, he added.

C V Raman handing a signed cricket bat to Sunder Rajan

CV Raman, Executive Officer MSIL Engg said that such interactions will benefit both companies in forging closer relationships and understand each other better. He also presented a bat to Sona Koyo signed by all the members of MSIL Engg team as a token of friendship and goodwill.

Check below for enlarged photographs: 

The jubilant Maruti Suzuki India Ltd Engineering team

C V Raman, Executive Officer, MSIL Engg,  handing a signed cricket bat by Maruti Suzuki India Ltd team members to Sunder Rajan, CEO: Sona Koyo Steering Ltd

 Team members of Sona Koyo Steering System

CRICKET: Maruti Suzuki Beats Sona Koyo Steering

•  Friendship Cup
  

The Winning Team - Maruti Suzuki

New Delhi, 24 January 2012:It was a crisp, overcast winter morning when two giants of the Indian automotive industry took to the cricket field — not to compete in business, but to celebrate bonds forged over decades. Maruti Suzuki India Ltd edged past Sona Koyo Steering Systems by a close seven-run margin in a nail-biting limited-overs match held at the ITM University grounds in Gurgaon.

The match was organised as part of Sona Koyo’s Silver Jubilee celebrations, marking 25 years of engineering excellence, innovation, and strong partnerships.

Despite the chill in the air, the warmth on the field was undeniable. Passion, team spirit, and sheer enthusiasm lit up the game. The highlight of the day was a spectacular all-round performance by Maruti Suzuki’s S. Maitra, whose steady play and sharp focus earned him the well-deserved "Man of the Match" title.

The Sona Koyo Team

What made the match more meaningful was the mutual respect and admiration between the two teams. It wasn’t just about cricket—it was about collaboration, camaraderie, and celebrating a shared journey in India’s automotive growth story.

Sona Koyo’s founder and then Chairman, Dr. Surinder Kapur, visibly moved by the occasion, acknowledged Maruti Suzuki’s pivotal role in bringing world-class manufacturing standards to India. “Maruti has been instrumental in shaping the direction of our industry,” he said, “and we are proud to have walked alongside them.”

Maruti Suzuki's S. Maitra and
Sona Koyo's Sunjay Kapur

Maruti Suzuki’s Maitra echoed the sentiment, expressing his hope that the bond between the two organisations continues to grow. “This isn’t just about cricket,” he said, “it’s about relationships that last. We look forward to many more such friendly matches in the future.”

Sona Koyo’s Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Mr. Sunjay Kapur, who himself played some fine strokes during the match, summed up the spirit of the day beautifully:
“Whether Sona wins or Maruti wins, the friendship must always win.”

A day of sport, smiles, and shared memories — the kind that stay long after the final ball is bowled.

Sunder Rajan and Sunjay Kapur

Sunjay Kapur and Maruti Suzuki's S. Maitra
along with Sona Koyo cricket team