Team India to play Asia Cup 2025 Without a Jersey Sponsor for the First Time in Years

Team India are set to enter the Asia Cup 2025 without a jersey sponsor, according to a report from India Today.

With the tournament beginning on September 9 in the UAE, the BCCI has been unable to finalise a short-term deal and is instead focusing on securing a long-term sponsorship that runs until the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The sponsorship crisis arose after the central government introduced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which forced Dream11 to terminate its agreement with the board.

The fantasy sports company, along with My11Circle, had been contributing close to Rs 1,000 crore through deals covering both Team India and the IPL. Dream11’s national team sponsorship alone was valued at Rs 358 crore.

An emergency Apex Council meeting chaired by interim president Rajeev Shukla on August 28 was held to address the issue.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed Dream11’s exit and said that efforts are underway to bring in a new sponsor. However, the tight schedule before the Asia Cup makes the process difficult.

“Due to the current government regulations, the BCCI cannot maintain its sponsorship ties with Dream11 or similar gaming companies. The new rules leave no room for such partnerships,” Saikia told PTI.

The bill bans companies from offering or advertising online money gaming services, a move that has heavily impacted fantasy sports operators in India.

The absence of a jersey sponsor will not only affect the BCCI’s commercial revenues but also highlight the challenges of finding high-value partners under the new legal framework.

India will face UAE in their tournament opener on September 10 in Dubai, and unless a last-minute deal is struck, the players could be seen without a sponsor logo on their jerseys for the first time in years.