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For decades, the Indian cricket team has symbolized not just sporting pride but also one of the most lucrative branding opportunities in the country. The familiar sight of Team India walking out in jerseys stamped with bold sponsor logos has become part of cricket’s visual identity. But just weeks before the Asia Cup 2025 kicks off in the UAE on September 9, that picture is set to change dramatically. Dream11, the fantasy sports giant once valued at $8 billion, has abruptly pulled out as the team’s lead sponsor, leaving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scrambling for alternatives. The decision, triggered by the newly enacted ‘Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025,’ has not only disrupted sponsorship plans but also thrown open questions about the evolving relationship between sports, law, and business in India.
Dream11’s exits as the sponsors of Indian Cricket Team
Dream11’s exit is not just sudden—it’s legally bulletproof. The company invoked a carefully crafted clause in its ₹358 crore, three-year deal with the BCCI, which allows sponsors to withdraw without financial penalty if government legislation disrupts their core operations. This provision, akin to a ‘force majeure’ safeguard, became Dream11’s lifeline after the Online Gaming Bill effectively outlawed its real-money fantasy sports model, banning not only operations but also related advertising and sponsorships.
For the BCCI, this means there’s no compensation despite the early termination. For Dream11, it’s an escape route that protects the brand from legal trouble, given that the new legislation imposes severe consequences—up to five years in prison and fines of ₹2 crore for repeat offenders.
Dream11 had not been a passive partner in cricket either. Since stepping in as Team India’s jersey sponsor in July 2023 after Byju’s withdrawal, the platform had embedded itself across global cricket. From being the fantasy partner of the Caribbean Premier League to sponsoring New Zealand’s Super Smash and Australia’s Big Bash League, Dream11’s reach was vast. Closer to home, it had become a staple of the IPL sponsorship ecosystem and roped in icons like MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah as ambassadors. Its sudden departure, therefore, signals more than just the loss of a logo—it’s the collapse of a major cricket marketing pillar.
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The jersey jinx strikes again as BCCI seeks new sponsors
Dream11 now joins the growing list of Indian team sponsors plagued by what many in the industry call the ‘jersey jinx.’ Sahara’s long-standing deal ended amid legal challenges, Byju’s was forced to withdraw due to financial and regulatory troubles, and now Dream11 has been toppled by sweeping legislative reform. The irony is that jerseys featuring the brand’s logo are already printed for the Asia Cup, but the team will likely take the field without a sponsor for the first time in years.
While reports suggest that companies like Toyota and a fintech startup are exploring sponsorship opportunities, the clock is ticking. With less than three weeks to the tournament, the BCCI must not only fill a financial gap but also restore confidence in a sponsorship environment now rattled by unpredictable regulatory risks.
The implications stretch beyond the national team. Dream11’s withdrawal also casts doubt on its ₹125 crore annual IPL fantasy partnership, leaving the BCCI potentially facing a larger revenue shortfall. Combined with the Online Gaming Bill’s aim to dismantle real-money fantasy gaming while promoting esports and educational platforms, the entire sports marketing ecosystem is being reshaped in real time.
As Indian cricket stares at the unusual sight of an unbranded jersey, the moment feels symbolic. Sponsorship, once considered the most stable pillar of the game’s financial structure, now looks vulnerable to forces beyond cricketing control. The BCCI’s next move will determine not just who replaces Dream11, but how cricket adapts to a changing era where business, law, and sport are more intertwined than ever before.
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