The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited a title sponsorship for the Indian team, as they lost the sponsor of Dream11, following the government’s ban on real money gaming companies under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
The BCCI has made it clear that betting, gaming, crypto, and tobacco companies will not be eligible to bid.
Meanwhile, the board also restricted bids from Athleisure and sportswear manufacturers, banking, financial companies, non alcoholic cold beverages, fans, Mixer grinders, safety locks and insurance companies due to be in conflict with the existing sponsors of the BCCI.
BCCI has also made it clear that surrogate brands will not be permitted. “Bidders are prohibited from submitting bids through surrogate brands. Surrogate branding refers to any attempt to indirectly submit a bid on behalf of a different entity or Person through the use of a different entity or person.This includes, but is not limited to, the use of different names, brands, identity or logos.”
To be eligible, interested companies must have a net worth or average turnover of INR 300 crore.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (“BCCI”) invites bids from reputed entities for acquiring the National Team Lead Sponsor Rights. Accordingly, the BCCI is issuing an Invitation for Expression of Interest for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights (“IEOI”), which provides the detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids.”
The last date for the purchase of IEOI is September 12. The bidding may be on September 16 which means the Indian team will be without a jersey sponsor for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 which begins on September 9 to 28.
Dream11 had won the rights for US $44 million (INR 258 crore) for the period 2023 to 2026. They are exiting with almost a year still for the contract to end, but are unlikely to be penalised for it.
