By News Karnataka
Copyright newskarnataka
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has signed a fresh sponsorship deal with Apollo Tyres, making the company the new jersey sponsor of the Indian cricket team until 2027. The move comes shortly after the termination of Dream11’s contract, following a government ban on betting-related and real-money gaming applications.
A landmark deal for Indian cricket
According to the agreement, Apollo Tyres will pay Rs 4.5 crore per match, which is higher than Dream11’s earlier contribution of Rs 4 crore. The deal is one of the most lucrative sponsorship agreements in Indian cricket in recent years and is expected to give the tyre manufacturer significant global visibility.
With India’s packed international cricket calendar over the next few years—including bilateral series, the Champions Trophy, and the ICC World Cup in 2027—the deal offers Apollo Tyres an unparalleled marketing platform.
Transition after Dream11 exit
Dream11, which had been the jersey sponsor, ended its association with the BCCI after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act came into force. The act bans all forms of online money gaming and prohibits any form of direct or indirect promotion of such platforms.
The company’s withdrawal left both the Indian men’s and women’s teams without a jersey sponsor in their current assignments. The men’s team is playing the Asia Cup 2025 without a sponsor, while the women’s side is competing in a three-match ODI series against Australia under similar conditions.
Sponsorship gap for women’s cricket
It remains unclear whether the women’s team will sport the Apollo Tyres logo on their kits for the upcoming Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September 30. The BCCI has not yet issued an official statement on whether the deal covers both men’s and women’s teams, or only the men’s side.
Observers note that women’s cricket sponsorships often lag behind the men’s game despite the rising popularity of events like the Women’s Premier League (WPL) and global tournaments.
Government ban impacts gaming industry
The end of Dream11’s sponsorship also highlights the financial impact of the online gaming ban on fantasy sports companies. Dream11 and My11Circle together had contributed close to Rs 1,000 crore to the BCCI through sponsorships of the Indian cricket team and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
With the new law stating that “no person shall offer, aid, abet, induce, indulge in offering online money gaming services nor shall involve in any advertisement which directly or indirectly promotes any person to play any online money game,” companies in the fantasy gaming sector have been forced to cut down on high-profile deals.
Strong start for Indian men’s team
On the cricketing front, the Indian men’s team has made a solid start to their Asia Cup 2025 campaign, recording back-to-back victories against the UAE and Pakistan. Their next match will be against Oman on September 19.
Meanwhile, the Indian women’s team, who are playing a home ODI series against world champions Australia in Mullanpur, suffered a defeat in the opening match. They will aim to bounce back in the second fixture on September 17.
The Apollo Tyres deal provides much-needed financial continuity to Indian cricket at a time when fantasy gaming sponsorships have been disrupted by government regulation. While the men’s team will soon take the field with a new sponsor on their jerseys, the focus will also be on ensuring equal visibility for the women’s side, especially with the Women’s World Cup just weeks away.
