India – As the Cricket World Cup fever grips the nation, Gulf Oil Lubricants India and Dentsu Creative have teamed up to unleash a new force in the cricket arena – the ‘Unstoppable Army’ of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans.

In a bold and disruptive campaign by Dentsu Creative, Gulf Oil has decided to hand over the reins of its advertising to the fans, giving them a chance to showcase their love and loyalty for the team, while the players focus on their training and the game.

The campaign was kicked off with a behind-the-scenes film, featuring CSK’s beloved players, led by Dhoni, as they arrived on set prepared to shoot the Gulf Oil ad. However, a twist awaited them as the brand representatives revealed the campaign’s unique concept of giving time back to CSK players, while inviting fans to craft their own advertisements. The film concluded with a compelling call to action, urging fans to unleash their creativity by visiting the campaign website.

Adding a touch of humour to the campaign are entertaining films featuring uncanny lookalikes of CSK players such as Dhoni and Jadeja. These films humorously fill the void left by the real heroes who are diligently honing their skills on the field. They reinforce the campaign’s central message of giving players time to focus, and giving the fans the opportunity to shine by crafting their own Gulf Oil ads. The ultimate reward up for grabs is being able to see one’s own ad on TV.

The campaign is a unique initiative that fosters a deeper connection between the brand, the fans, and the team. Leveraging digital platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for the campaign’s launch and subsequent fan-generated content, Gulf aims to create a cohesive and engaging narrative that celebrates the spirit of cricket and its supporters.

Amit Gheji, head of marketing, Gulf Oil Lubricants India, commented, “We’re excited to have rolled out the ‘Gulf Unstoppable Army’ campaign alongside Dentsu Creative. This isn’t just about ads; it’s about honouring the passion of CSK fans and giving our players the space they need to clinch that 6th title.” 

“By letting the fans take the creative reins, we’re tapping into the raw energy of cricket fandom while showing our players some serious love. It’s a win-win that embodies the heart and soul of Gulf Oil’s partnership with CSK – together being bold, dynamic, and totally unstoppable,” he added.
 
Meanwhile, Ajeet Shukla & Gia Fernandes, creative heads (West) at Dentsu Creative India, added, “The T20 cricket season is that challenging phase of advertising where you’ll have to & must do something disruptive and thoughtful to get noticed. That is what our attempt has been this time with the idea of not using CSK players for Gulf Oil Ads. Instead giving back the time to players to practice and hopefully see them emerge as Champions for the sixth time. We’re very excited to see the entries that are coming our way and hoping the entire nation picks it up and sends us their creative version of a Gulf Oil ad.”

Mumbai, India – Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni, most commonly known as MS Dhoni, partakes in a new campaign by the Indian arm of oil company Gulf Oil, which takes the ambassador in a ‘memory lane’ with his younger self.

Titled #GulfDhonixDhoni, the campaign sees Dhoni’s self back in 2005 and his current self sharing both their love for biking and the cricket sport. The campaign focuses on the blend of performance of Dhoni and Gulf Oil’s Gulf Pride oil product, drawing the consistent performance of both entities.

The campaign, made by DDB Mudra Group, was strategically released on the 10th Anniversary of India’s 2011 World Cup Victory, one of the greatest sporting moments for Indian cricket fans.

Speaking about his participation in the campaign, Dhoni stated that he is happy to be associated with a brand that is driven by passion to move forward.

“As an avid biker myself, I can very well connect with the brand’s proposition and product offerings. This campaign makes me nostalgic as I revisit my favorite cricketing moments including the winning shot at the 2011 World Cup Finals. It gave me a feel of how it would be to meet my younger self, what we would talk about and what I would advise him if we met,” he stated.

Rahul Mathew, chief creative officer at DDB Mudra Group said, “Great brands should tell great stories. And with Dhoni, we had an engaging story that we could tell the world while building on the brand’s promise of consistent performance.”

According to Ravi Chawla, managing director and CEO at Gulf Oil Lubricants India, their newest campaign is intended to strengthen their position as one of the well-known brands when it comes to important consumer mind measures or brand health measures.

“At Gulf, we pride ourselves on being an innovator and we seek to consistently push the envelope when it comes to our product quality and benefits. In keeping with this ethos, we recently upgraded our flagship 2-wheeler engine oil, Gulf Pride 4T. While previously the brand promise was about “Insta pick-up”, and it resonated strongly with bikers across the country, we bettered the product to be able to now deliver ‘Consistent Insta Pick-up’ over thousands of kilometres and many years,” Chawla stated.