For the first time in a non-ICC tournament, Team India will take the field without a lead sponsor on their jerseys at the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. This comes after fantasy sports platform Dream11 ended its sponsorship deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), citing regulatory changes that impacted its core business.
Why Dream11 Pulled Out
The Indian government recently introduced the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, banning real-money gaming. Since Dream11’s business model largely depends on this format, the company invoked an exit clause in its contract. The original deal, signed in 2023 and valued at about USD 44 million (₹358 crore), was meant to run until 2026.
Impact on Team India Jerseys
Without a sponsor, the ‘India’ logo will appear larger and more prominent on the jerseys worn by Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, and the rest of the squad. While Indian players have worn sponsor-free kits during ICC tournaments before, this marks the first such instance at the Asia Cup.
BCCI’s Next Steps
The BCCI has already initiated a new bidding process. On September 2, it released an Invitation to Tender (ITT) for companies interested in becoming the team’s next lead sponsor.
- Sale of ITT documents: Until September 12
- Final bid submission: September 16
However, with the Asia Cup starting on September 9, India is expected to begin the tournament without a sponsor logo on their jerseys.
Past Sponsorship Shifts
This isn’t the first mid-contract exit for Indian cricket sponsorships. In 2019, OPPO withdrew, paving the way for Byju’s, which was later replaced by Dream11.
Asia Cup 2025 Fixtures – India’s Group Stage
- Sept 10: vs UAE, Dubai
- Sept 14: vs Pakistan, Dubai
- Sept 19: vs Oman, Abu Dhabi
India is in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. The Super Four stage will determine the finalists for the title clash on September 28.
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