The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed an appeal filed by Percept Talent Management Ltd. challenging the Calcutta High Court judgment that had upheld a ₹14.49 crore arbitral award in favour of former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly. The dispute arose from a 2003 Player Representation Agreement between Ganguly and Percept concerning the management of his commercial and endorsement engagements.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana heard Percept’s challenge to the High Court judgment. The arbitral tribunal had awarded Ganguly ₹14.49 crore along with 12% annual interest and ₹50 lakh towards costs.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Nakul Dewan, appearing for Percept, argued that the agreement contained an all-encompassing clause covering promotional services, including activities connected with cricket matches. Percept had also challenged the tribunal’s conclusion that Ganguly’s earnings from playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL did not fall within the revenue-sharing arrangement under the agreement.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi questioned Percept’s position on the KKR-related activities and its interpretation before the arbitral tribunal.
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“If that is how you interpreted the KKR promotional activities before the arbitrator, how can we allow you to come and argue before us that the definition of promotional activity must be seen in terms of the contract executed? One part is your playing of cricket, but there is another significant part where you are advertising.”
Dewan argued that the arbitral tribunal had failed to consider relevant contractual provisions and evidence while concluding that Ganguly’s KKR playing contract fell outside the revenue-sharing arrangement. He also submitted that courts exercising jurisdiction under Sections 34 and 37 of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996 have a limited scope of interference and cannot re-appreciate evidence or reinterpret a contract merely because they prefer another interpretation.
The dispute dates back to 2003, when Ganguly appointed Percept as his exclusive manager for his commercial and endorsement engagements. The agreement guaranteed him a minimum payment and provided for revenue sharing from his commercial engagements. Percept terminated the agreement in November 2007 after Ganguly had been omitted from the Indian cricket team for several months. Ganguly challenged the termination, leading to arbitration.
In 2018, the three-member arbitral tribunal ruled in Ganguly’s favour and awarded him ₹14.49 crore, besides interest and costs. Percept subsequently challenged the award before the Calcutta High Court. A Single Judge rejected the challenge in July 2025, following which Percept’s appeal was dismissed by a Division Bench in April 2026.
The Supreme Court thereafter refused to entertain Percept’s appeal.