It's raining brands this cricket season

• Buy an Akai TV and get a DVDfree.• Buy an Opel Astra and get a Samsung TV worth Rs 1.30 lakhfree.NEW DELHI: But, there’s catch — India must win the WorldCup. Customers are thrilled, naturally. Says Anita Khanna, schoolteacher who bought an Akai CTV, ‘‘Whichever way one looks at it, Iam a winner because the offer is that India entered the Super Six, I got a DVDplayer for Rs 2999. If India entered the semi-final I had to fork out Rs 1999,if we entered the final the amount came down to Rs 999 and if we win, I get itfree.’’White goods majors and others including LG,Samsung, Onida, Pepsi are offering a staggering range of freebies. On offer areSamsung’s microwave ovens, VCDs, Swatch watches worth Rs 25 crore. Theresult is that sales in the CTV section has seen an astounding 250 per cent jumpin the first quarter over last year.LG freebies included trips toSouth Africa. Ganesh Mahalingam, head of LG sales says,‘‘Sales intheir white goods section during the first quarter have already exceeded Rs 1000crore. Interestingly, much of the growth has been in the Plasma TV section withits large screen.’’The Indian team’s colours arehot. The sale of team T-shirts has crossed the 3.5 lakh mark already.Among the big scorers is Pantaloon. ‘‘This has fetchedPantloon, Sport King, Oswal Group and Indigo Nation over Rs 10 crore insales.