Big Win but Jersey Looked Empty Without a Sponsor
India thrashed UAE in the Asia Cup T20 with a convincing 9-wicket victory, bowling them out for just 58 runs. Yet, the bigger talking point wasn’t the scorecard but the empty front of Team India’s jersey. For the first time in decades, India played without a title sponsor logo on its kit.
The reason was Dream11’s exit. Dream11 had signed a ₹358 crore three-year sponsorship deal with BCCI in 2023, which included ₹3 crore per home match and ₹1 crore per overseas match. However, with the implementation of India’s new Online Gaming Act in 2025, fantasy and real-money gaming platforms were banned from sponsorships. As a result, the agreement had to be terminated under mutual consent.
Now, the BCCI has invited bids for a new sponsor. The new sponsorship rates have been revised to ₹3.5 crore per bilateral match and ₹1.5 crore per ICC/ACC match. Over the course of the cycle (about 130–140 matches), the deal could generate revenues of more than ₹400 crore for BCCI. But since no company has finalized the agreement yet, Team India entered the Asia Cup with a sponsor-less jersey.
Among the probable new sponsors being discussed are Tata Group, Reliance (Jio), Adani Group, along with large FMCG and automobile brands. Tata already sponsors the IPL, Reliance Jio has a massive presence in Indian cricket, and Adani has been aggressively investing in sports.
India’s on-field dominance was clear and memorable, but the blank jersey told another story — of how sports, business, and government policies are deeply intertwined.
Disclaimer
This blog is for educational purposes only and not investment advice.
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Written by Dr. Vinay Prakash Tiwari, Founder, Daddy’s International School & LTP Calculator Financial Technology Private Limited
