Mumbai, Aug. 27: The cricket board today sold the ground and title-naming rights for 55 Tests and ODIs to be played in India till March 2010 to Singapore’s World Sports Group for Rs 173.25 crore.

The WSG, which outbid Indian contenders Percept and Nimbus, offered Rs 3.15 crore a match, just above the reserve (minimum) price of Rs 3 crore. It is expected to sell the rights to individual companies.

“The rights were so far with Pepsi and Videocon, which had paid Rs 2 crore per match,” said Ratnakar Shetty, the BCCI’s chief administrative officer. The deadline for submitting the bids was this afternoon.

The board had invited sponsorship bids in various areas on August 13, but the ground and title rights have been announced first.

The results of the bidding for such sponsorships in international Twenty20 matches and domestic fixtures — like the Ranji Trophy, Challenger Series, Duleep Trophy, Deodhar Trophy, Irani Trophy and the Premier Cup — will be declared next.

A hunt is also on to get sponsors for umpires’ clothing in matches played by India “A” and India juniors in the country.