The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is set to finalize a new lead sponsor for the Indian cricket team within the next two to three weeks, Indian Premier League (IPL) Chairman Arun Dhumal confirmed on Friday. This development comes after fantasy gaming platform Dream11 walked away from its multi-million-dollar deal following the Indian government’s enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, which prohibits real-money gaming nationwide.
Dream11’s Exit and Sponsorship Gap
Dream11 had been the front-of-jersey sponsor for Team India in all formats of the game and was contracted until 2026. Valued at nearly 44 million USD (₹358 crore), the deal was one of the most lucrative sponsorship arrangements in Indian cricket. However, with new regulations rendering its primary business model untenable, Dream11 invoked the exit clause in its contract, leaving Team India without a lead sponsor.
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As a result, Rohit Sharma and his squad are currently featuring in the Asia Cup without any sponsor branding on their jerseys—an unusual sight given the commercial strength of Indian cricket. The Asia Cup, being held between September 9 and 28, 2025, highlights this sponsorship void as India continues to attract significant global television audiences and brand attention.
BCCI’s Search for a New Partner
To address the sponsorship gap, the BCCI issued an invitation for expressions of interest earlier this month for companies willing to become the new lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team. September 12 was the deadline for purchasing the invitation documents, while the final date for submitting bids is September 16. The cricket board has indicated strong interest from multiple leading brands across diverse industries, including e-commerce, FMCG, automobile, and consumer tech.
On the sidelines of the PlayCom 2025 summit, IPL chairman Arun Dhumal reassured stakeholders that the process was moving swiftly. “What has happened with Dream11 is behind us. We have already begun the process and I am confident that in the next 2-3 weeks, the new sponsor for Team India will be unveiled,” Dhumal said.
Indian Cricket
The sponsorship might see a shift away from the online gaming and fantasy sports sector, which had previously dominated such deals. With the Indian government tightening its stance on real-money gaming, big corporations in traditional sectors are expected to vie for the title of India’s new jersey sponsor.
For the BCCI, securing a new partner quickly is crucial not only from a financial perspective but also to maintain brand visibility ahead of big-ticket tournaments such as the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and the upcoming home Test series. Fans and industry observers can expect the official announcement before the end of September, restoring India’s jerseys with another global brand at the center stage.
