The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is ending its title sponsorship deal with fantasy gaming platform Dream11, following the enactment of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. This legislative shift bars BCCI from associating with online gaming firms going forward.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development, stating, “BCCI and Dream11 are discontinuing their relationship after the Online Gaming Bill was passed. BCCI will not engage with similar organisations in the future.”
The exit leaves India’s national cricket team without a jersey sponsor just weeks before the Asia Cup, scheduled from September 9 to 28 in the UAE. India begins its campaign on September 10 against the hosts, with a high-stakes match versus Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai.
Dream11 had signed a three-year sponsorship deal in July 2023 worth ₹358 crore (approx. $43 million), replacing previous sponsor Byju’s. Beyond its national team association, Dream11 also has commercial ties with several Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, maintaining a strong presence in Indian cricket.
According to NDTV, Japanese automotive giant Toyota and an unnamed fintech start-up have shown preliminary interest in stepping in as the next lead sponsor. However, the official bidding process has not yet begun. If a new deal isn’t finalized swiftly, Team India could head into the Asia Cup without a title sponsor – a rare scenario for one of the sport’s most visible teams.
