Apollo Tyres Named New Lead Sponsor of Team India
Apollo Tyres wins Team India lead sponsorship with INR 579 crore bid, replacing Dream11 for three years.
The BCCI has found its new lead sponsor for Team India, with Apollo Tyres bagging the rights after a fierce bidding war. The Gurgaon-based tyre company sealed the deal with a bid of INR 579 crore, beating Canva and JK Cements to the punch.
The three-year agreement will cover 121 bilateral fixtures and 21 ICC matches, making Apollo Tyres the new name on India’s jerseys across the world stage.
Canva reportedly offered INR 544 crore, while JK Cements came in with INR 477 crore. Birla Optus Paints had shown interest but chose not to enter the final bidding.
Record-Breaking Deal
The structure works out to an average of INR 4.77 crore per match, well above the BCCI’s base price of INR 3.5 crore for bilateral games and INR 1.5 crore for ICC tournaments. The numbers highlight once again how India’s cricket team remains the biggest brand magnet in world cricket.
Apollo, which operates in over 100 countries, will enjoy massive visibility over the next three years as the brand takes center stage on the Indian jersey. For the company, this is not just a domestic boost but also a big step in global recognition.
Why a New Sponsor Was Needed
The sponsorship slot opened after Dream11 pulled out. The brand was hit by the new Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which directly impacted its operations.
To avoid such issues in the future, the BCCI barred betting, crypto, online gaming, and tobacco-linked companies from bidding. This widened the pool and allowed established consumer brands to compete.
