Apollo Tyres has officially replaced Dream11 as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket teams, the BCCI confirmed on Tuesday. The new deal, valued at Rs 579 crore (US$ 65.7 million approx.), will run for two and a half years until March 2028, according to PTI.
In its statement, the BCCI highlighted that the partnership was finalized after a rigorous bidding process and represents a significant jump in sponsorship value, underlining the ever-growing commercial appeal of Indian cricket.
The change became necessary after Dream11, whose core business was real-money gaming, withdrew from its contract. This came following the Indian government’s passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 in August, which banned real-money gaming companies from sponsorship deals. Dream11 had originally signed a deal worth US$ 44 million (approx. Rs 358 crore) for the period 2023 to 2026 before being forced to exit.
With Dream11’s exit, both the Indian men’s and women’s teams have been playing without a jersey sponsor. The men’s side is currently competing in the Asia Cup in the UAE, while the women are engaged in a bilateral ODI series against Australia.
To secure a new sponsor, the BCCI invited expressions of interest for the lead team sponsorship rights on September 2, with a deadline of September 16. The board clearly outlined that companies associated with alcohol, gambling, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco, or products considered offensive to public morals would not be eligible to bid.
Apollo Tyres’ appointment as the new lead sponsor not only fills the void left by Dream11 but also reinforces cricket’s unmatched commercial strength in India. The deal marks a major step forward, ensuring that the national teams once again sport a prominent brand on their jerseys.
