There’s a growing narrative in Indian cricket: wear the national jersey as a sponsor, and you’re doomed.

Sahara. Star. Oppo. Byju’s. And now, Dream11. Each of them once proudly emblazoned their name across Team India’s chest – and each, eventually, found themselves in retreat.

But perhaps the problem isn’t the jersey. It’s what happens behind closed doors.

What these brands shared wasn’t just national visibility – it was an appetite for hypergrowth, often at the cost of business fundamentals. They didn’t just chase reach; they sprinted after dominance, fuelled by massive spends on what’s arguably the most high-stakes advertising real estate in the country – Team India’s principal sponsorship.

It’s a position of unmatched visibility. But for brands still building operational maturity, it can become a double-edged sword. When the foundation isn’t solid, cricket’s megaphone only magnifies the cracks.

The jersey doesn’t jinx a company – it reveals it.

Dream11’s exit comes amid wider regulatory heat on real-money gaming, but it also fits a larger pattern. Visibility alone doesn’t drive longevity. As much as cricket can elevate a brand, it can just as quickly highlight its missteps.

These brands didn’t fall because they were associated with cricket – they fell because they mistook attention for stability, and sponsorship for strategy.

Of course, on a lighter note – Dream11’s cheeky, memorable ads had become a beloved fixture in every match break. Their absence will be felt on screens, even if not in the books.