New Delhi, September 3 – In a rare and unusual development, Team India are set to enter the Asia Cup 2025 without a lead sponsor on their jerseys. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed the sponsorship void after fantasy sports giant Dream11 pulled out of its contract last month.
Dream11 Walks Away
The sponsorship exit comes in the wake of the Indian government’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, which enforces a ban on real-money gaming in the country. Dream11, whose core business model is based on paid fantasy gaming, had little choice but to invoke the exit clause of its contract.
The deal, valued at nearly USD 44 million (₹358 crore) and signed until 2026, has ended abruptly — leaving BCCI in a race against time to find a new partner.
BCCI Opens Fresh Bidding
On September 2, the BCCI issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for interested companies to bid for the lead sponsorship rights. Firms can purchase the EOI documents until September 12, with the final submission deadline on September 16 — well after the Asia Cup kicks off on September 9 in the UAE.
This timeline means India will begin the Asia Cup without a sponsor on their jerseys, a first in recent memory for a major multi-nation tournament outside ICC events.
Not the First Time
This is not the first sponsorship hiccup for Indian cricket. In 2019, mobile brand OPPO ended its deal prematurely, paving the way for ed-tech company Byju’s to step in. Later, Dream11 secured a three-year agreement in 2023, only for it to be cut short in 2025 due to regulatory changes.
Who Can Bid?
The BCCI has laid down strict eligibility rules. Potential bidders from sectors such as alcohol, tobacco, cryptocurrency, betting, gambling, pornography, and online real-money gaming are barred from applying. The board made it clear that any entity linked to the prohibited categories under the new Online Gaming Act will not be considered.
What It Means for Team India
For the first time, Indian cricketers will don jerseys without a front-of-shirt sponsor during the Asia Cup. While it won’t affect the players on the field, the absence of a title sponsor is bound to catch the eye of fans and broadcasters, given the high visibility of India’s matches.
With the Asia Cup opening against hosts UAE on September 10, followed by high-voltage clashes against Pakistan (September 14) and Oman (September 19), the spotlight will not only be on India’s cricket but also on the unusual sight of a sponsor-less jersey.
