In a rare and surprising turn of events, the Indian men’s cricket team is set to compete in the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup without a main shirt sponsor on their jerseys. This unexpected development is the result of a recent shake-up in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)‘s sponsorship deals, leaving the board scrambling to find a replacement just days before the team’s departure.
The void was created by the premature exit of Dream11, the real-money fantasy gaming brand that had a long-term contract with the BCCI until 2026, valued at $44 million (around Rs. 358 crore). The company exercised an exit clause in its contract after the Indian government’s recent ban on real-money gaming, which made a partnership with the national team untenable.
BCCI’s Urgent Search and New Restrictions
With the team scheduled to depart for Dubai on Thursday and the tournament beginning on September 9, the BCCI is now in a race against time. On Tuesday, the board issued an “Invitation for Expression of Interest for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights,” a formal call for new bidders. While several companies have reportedly shown interest, these deals are notoriously complex and take time to finalize, making it highly unlikely that a new sponsor will be in place for the Asia Cup.
The BCCI’s public release also included several new and strict restrictions on who can bid for the sponsorship rights. The board has explicitly barred any company or its group companies engaged in online money gaming, betting, gambling, or similar services. In a further clarification, the BCCI also added a ban on businesses involved in crypto trading, crypto exchanges, or crypto tokens.
While the sight of a sponsor-less jersey on the Indian team will be a rare one for fans, the BCCI’s financial coffers are unlikely to be significantly affected by a few months without a shirt sponsor. However, the situation highlights the impact of government regulations on sports sponsorships and the challenges faced by cricket boards in securing long-term partnerships in a rapidly changing market.