Just when excitement was building for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, Indian cricket fans were hit with a surprising development. Fantasy sports giant Dream11 has decided to withdraw as Team India’s lead jersey sponsor, leaving the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) scrambling to find a replacement just weeks before the tournament begins.
This sudden move comes in the wake of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which bans real-money gaming platforms across India. Since Dream11’s business model revolves around paid fantasy contests, the company has no choice but to step back from sponsorship agreements with BCCI.
Why Did Dream11 Exit?
Dream11’s exit is directly linked to the new gaming bill. The company had signed a ₹358 crore sponsorship deal with the BCCI in 2023, which was supposed to run until 2026.
The agreement included ₹3 crore per home match and ₹1 crore per away match, making it one of the most lucrative contracts in Indian cricket sponsorship history.
But with the ban on paid fantasy sports, Dream11 cannot continue as an official sponsor. Although the company has not issued a formal press release, several media reports confirm that Dream11 has opted out of the contract with immediate effect.
The Asia Cup is scheduled to begin on September 9 in the UAE, which gives BCCI barely two weeks to find a new partner.
According to reports, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has clarified that the board will fully comply with Indian law. This means that no gaming company offering real-money contests can be considered for sponsorship.
Instead, the board may now look toward fintech firms, automotive companies, FMCG giants, or conglomerates like Tata, Reliance, or Adani.
If no deal is finalized in time, Team India might step onto the field with sponsor-free jerseys—a rare sight in modern cricket.
Jerseys Already Printed, But Can’t Be Used
One of the strangest twists in this saga is that Dream11-branded jerseys for the Asia Cup were already printed. But with the sponsorship deal canceled, those jerseys cannot be worn by the players.
This raises a curious possibility—India may either wear jerseys with a blank chest or wait for a last-minute replacement sponsor to take over the branding.
This is not the first time Team India has faced sponsor exits. Over the years:
- Sahara pulled out amid regulatory issues.
- Star India stepped back due to competition scrutiny.
- Oppo ended its deal citing high costs.
- Byju’s exited after legal complications.
Now, Dream11’s departure adds another chapter to the list of sponsorship shakeups that have tested BCCI’s crisis management skills.
In Shorts:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|
| Sponsor Exit | Dream11 withdraws due to ban on real-money fantasy platforms |
| Deal Value | ₹358 crore (2023–2026) |
| Per Match Payment | ₹3 crore (home), ₹1 crore (away) |
| BCCI’s Stand | Only sponsorships that comply with Indian law will be accepted |
| Jersey Update | Dream11 jerseys already printed but will not be used |
| Asia Cup 2025 | Starts September 9 in UAE |
| Possible Outcome | Either new sponsor before the event or India plays with sponsor-free kit |
What Could Happen Next?
Here are the possible scenarios:
- Fresh Tender Process: BCCI invites new bids for the sponsorship rights before the Asia Cup begins.
- Sponsor-Free Jerseys: If no deal is finalized, Team India might play the tournament without a sponsor on their jerseys.
- New Industry Players: Corporates from non-gaming sectors may step up, with strong interest likely from fintech apps, auto brands, and consumer goods companies.
Dream11’s exit may look like a commercial setback, but it also reflects a bigger shift in India’s sporting ecosystem. The Online Gaming Bill has redrawn the boundaries for sponsorship, forcing cricket’s administrators to look for new, long-term partners outside the gaming industry.
For fans, though, the focus remains on cricket. Whether India wears a sponsor logo or not, the excitement around the Asia Cup is building fast. Still, the empty space on the jersey—if it happens—could become a powerful symbol of regulation meeting sports business head-on.
