No Logo on India’s Jersey? Sponsorship Crisis Hits Before Asia Cup 2025
BCCI may lose Dream11 as Team India’s jersey sponsor before the Asia Cup 2025 after the gaming ban. Officials say they won’t settle for a stop-gap deal.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may face a fresh sponsorship challenge after the government’s crackdown on Real Money Gaming (RMG) apps put Dream11’s contract in doubt.
With the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 receiving presidential assent, Dream11 has shut down its cash contests, casting uncertainty over its ₹358 crore jersey deal with the Indian team.
If the law takes effect before the Asia Cup starting September 9, India might take the field without a sponsor on their jerseys, similar to the 2023 World Test Championship final.
“It’s premature to comment on what will happen. The legal position is that there will be a notification on which date the Act will come into force. If it happens before the Asia Cup, we will have to take the next course of action,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told Hindustan Times.
Saikia stressed that the board “will have to follow the law of the land.” The bill, aimed at curbing “predatory real money gaming apps,” was cleared swiftly and could be enforced soon.
While Dream Sports has other ventures like a luxury sports travel platform, questions remain on whether it would make sense for the company to continue spending on cricket sponsorship without its fantasy business.
If Dream11 exits, BCCI is expected to float a tender for new bidders, though the short window before the Asia Cup makes it difficult.
Board officials have hinted they would prefer no sponsor at all over a low-profile stop-gap deal, citing the poor response to their last temporary kit deal with Killer Jeans.
Meanwhile, BCCI’s ₹625 crore IPL sponsorship with My11Circle runs until 2028, giving them more time to explore replacements for the T20 league.
