Image Source: Odisha Bytes
Just over two weeks before the Asia Cup 2025 kicks off in the UAE, the Indian cricket team faces an unexpected off-field challenge: fantasy sports giant Dream11 has decided to withdraw as the lead jersey sponsor for Team India. This decision follows the enactment of the ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025,’ which imposes a blanket ban on real-money online gaming, including fantasy sports platforms like Dream11.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and Dream11 have yet to issue an official joint statement, reports suggest that Dream11 is no longer willing to continue its multi-crore agreement under the new legal framework. The existing contract, signed in 2023, was valued at ₹358 crore for a three-year term, encompassing ₹3 crore per home game and ₹1 crore per away game.
Jerseys Printed But Not for Play
In a twist, the official Team India jerseys for the Asia Cup featuring Dream11 branding have already been printed. However, these jerseys are unlikely to be worn during the tournament, reflecting the abruptness and complexity of the situation the BCCI must manage merely weeks before India’s first match on September 9.
BCCI Committed to Legal Compliance and Fresh Sponsorship Bids
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia reaffirmed the board’s commitment to full compliance with India’s laws, stating, “If it’s not permissible, we won’t do anything. The BCCI will follow every policy framed by the central government.” Meanwhile, the governing body is preparing to invite fresh bids for the Indian cricket team’s jersey sponsorship, though securing a new partner before the Asia Cup remains uncertain.
The absence of a lead sponsor for such a high-visibility team and event is rare in global cricket. Should the BCCI fail to secure fresh sponsorship rights in time, Team India could play the Asia Cup without any lead brand logo on their jerseys—a rare and telling symbol of regulatory shifts impacting sport’s commercial ecosystem.
Impact and Future Outlook
Dream11’s exit spotlights the profound effect of India’s new stringent regulations on online fantasy sports—a once booming sector that emerged as a major cricket sponsor in recent years. With real-money platforms prohibited, companies operating in other sectors, potentially e-commerce, automobile (especially EV), telecommunications, and financial services, are expected to emerge as likely contenders for the lucrative sponsorship rights going forward.
Sports marketing analysts remark that the jersey sponsorship deal remains the most coveted commercial asset in Indian sport but also warn that “legacy brands with staying power” are better poised to navigate this volatile landscape.
Asia Cup 2025 Context and Team Outlook
India, led by Suryakumar Yadav and vice-captained by Shubman Gill, will enter the Asia Cup 2025 amidst this backdrop of commercial uncertainty but remain focused on on-field performance. The tournament starts on September 9, with India slated to meet hosts UAE in their opener.
Relevant Sources: Hindustan Times, Business Standard, NDTV Sport, Business Today, InsideSport
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