New Delhi: The Indian cricket team is preparing to enter a new era without a jersey sponsor as the Online Money Gaming Prohibition Act, which came into effect yesterday, has dealt a major blow to fantasy gaming companies. Dream XI, the current sponsor of Team India’s jersey, saw its contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) terminated following the government’s decision.
With the sudden exit of Dream XI, the BCCI is now actively scouting for new sponsors. According to NDTV reports, two firms have shown interest in bagging the high-profile deal Toyota Motors and a fintech startup. Though the names are in circulation, the BCCI has not yet floated an official tender. This makes it almost certain that Team India will step into the upcoming Asia Cup without a sponsor logo on their kits.
The development marks the abrupt end of a lucrative three-year contract worth â‚ą385 crore between BCCI and Dream XI, which was originally set to run until 2026.
The ban has also hit Indian cricket’s biggest stars personally. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and several others have endorsement deals with gaming apps, now rendered void. Analysts estimate the cumulative losses for players could fall between ₹150 and ₹200 crore.
Kohli, for instance, had signed a ₹7 crore deal with MPL (Mobile Premier League), while both he and Rohit reportedly earned ₹6–7 crore each through partnerships with Dream XI and Winzo. Other players, including Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Hardik Pandya, are also expected to see their incomes shrink significantly.
The sudden vacuum in sponsorship presents both a challenge and an opportunity. With a global giant like Toyota in the mix, BCCI might opt for a more traditional and stable brand association, distancing itself from the now-restricted world of online gaming apps.
Until the tender process is finalized, however, Indian cricket fans may witness something unusual Team India walking out for the Asia Cup with a blank jersey front.