Good morning [%first_name |Dear Reader%],

Over the last few days, the Premier League India Twitter handle has been busy posting photos and videos of Bollywood star Ranveer Singh.

No, thankfully, it’s not promoting his movies. The 36-year-old actor is the brand ambassador for the Premier League in India. And the league recently flew him down to the UK, where he attended some of the matches, went on stadium tours, and scored a penalty kick against the Crystal Palace club mascot Pete the Eagle, among other things.

Clearly, the Premier League is really trying to increase its fanbase in India. And the recent renewal of its media rights contract in India explains why it’s so desperate.

Premier League broadcast rights are off the charts. Just not in India

I don’t remember the last time I watched a Premier League match. Because the team I support, Manchester United, is pretty shit right now. Yes, yes, I’m a bad fan, not supporting my team when the times are bad, blah blah. But there are enough depressing things happening in the world for me to voluntarily spend 90 minutes every weekend watching one of the most expensively assembled teams in the world flap around trying to put the ball in the net.