“The deal shows that Indian cricket remains the most valuable property for major consumer brands.” — On the Apollo Tyres sponsorship win
Apollo Tyres will appear on Team India’s jersey from late 2025 to March 2028. BCCI picked the company after a bidding round in September 2025. The deal is worth ₹579 crore for 142 matches, covering both the men’s and women’s national teams across all formats.
This marks Apollo’s first jersey role with Indian cricket. The deal came after Dream11 exited following the passage of the Online Gaming Bill in August 2025, which banned money-based gaming sponsorships and advertisements in sports.
📢 What BCCI Announced
BCCI named Apollo Tyres as the new lead sponsor on September 16, 2025. The board confirmed that the deal runs to March 2028. This marks Apollo’s first jersey role with Indian cricket.
Officials said the value shows strong interest in national-team rights. The logo will appear on all match kits for both men’s and women’s teams in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
📋 Contract Details: What the Deal Covers
The deal runs to March 2028 and covers 142 matches in total:
121 Bilateral Games: Matches between India and other countries in home and away series.
21 ICC Games: Matches in ICC tournaments like World Cups, Champions Trophy, and World Test Championship.
The logo will appear on both men’s and women’s kits in all formats — Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. The tender set base rates at ₹3.5 crore per bilateral match and ₹1.5 crore per ICC match.
Key Numbers: ₹579 crore ÷ 142 matches = ₹4.08 crore average per match. Bilateral matches are valued higher (₹3.5 Cr base) than ICC matches (₹1.5 Cr base).
🏆 Bidding Process: How Apollo Won
Apollo Tyres won with a ₹579 crore bid, outbidding two other major competitors:
Canva bid ₹544 crore (₹35 crore less than Apollo)
JK Cements bid ₹477 crore (₹102 crore less than Apollo)
Birla Opus Paints showed interest but did not reach the final stage.
The tender set base rates at ₹3.5 crore for each bilateral match and ₹1.5 crore for each ICC match. Apollo’s offer cleared both levels and topped its rivals with a comfortable margin.
| Bidder | Bid Amount | Difference from Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo Tyres (Winner) | ₹579 Crore | — |
| Canva | ₹544 Crore | ₹35 Cr less |
| JK Cements | ₹477 Crore | ₹102 Cr less |
| Birla Opus Paints | Did not qualify | — |
🚪 Why Dream11 Exited
The Online Gaming Bill, passed in August 2025, banned money-based games and blocked their advertising and sponsorship. Dream11, which operated fantasy sports with real-money contests, was directly affected by this law.
Following the bill’s passage, Dream11 stepped away from the Team India jersey sponsorship. BCCI announced it would avoid brands tied to betting, gaming, crypto, and tobacco going forward.
During the transition period, Dream11 shifted to ad-funded contests after the law removed its main business model. This shift explains its decision to end the sponsorship deal.
Don’t confuse: Dream11 did NOT voluntarily exit. The Online Gaming Bill (August 2025) FORCED the exit by banning money-based gaming sponsorships. This was a regulatory change, not a business decision by Dream11.
🎯 What Apollo Tyres Gains
Wide Jersey Presence: The Apollo logo will appear on India’s match kits in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is — the most-watched cricket content in the world.
Global Reach: Apollo sells tyres under Apollo and Vredestein brands in more than 100 countries. The Team India jersey lifts visibility in many of those markets, especially during ICC tournaments.
Sports Portfolio Expansion: Apollo extended its partnership with Manchester United through 2028 and has supported football clubs in India. Cricket adds another major sport to its profile, creating a comprehensive sports marketing strategy.
Youth Connect: For a retail-heavy brand, steady match exposure helps recall and builds ties with younger fans who follow cricket passionately.
Think of it this way: Every time Virat Kohli or Smriti Mandhana walks onto the field, millions of viewers will see “Apollo Tyres” on their chest. That kind of exposure during India matches — watched by 500+ million people globally — is marketing gold for a consumer brand.
🏏 Impact on BCCI and Indian Cricket
The ₹579 crore deal shows that Indian cricket remains the most valuable property for major consumer brands. The deal lifts value over the previous Dream11 contract despite the legal shift.
Strong Competition: Multiple companies placed high offers in the tender, which points to steady demand for Team India rights.
Compliance Benefits: BCCI reduces regulatory risks by staying clear of restricted categories like gaming, betting, crypto, and tobacco.
Women’s Cricket Boost: The deal covering both men’s and women’s teams signals increasing commercial value of women’s cricket in India.
📜 Sponsorship History and Comparisons
Dream11 (2023-2025): Took the jersey in 2023 for about ₹358 crore over three years. The new Online Gaming law ended that path, forcing a quick change.
Apollo Tyres (2025-2028): The new ₹579 crore agreement raises the value significantly and stretches to March 2028.
Gap Period: During the 2025 Asia Cup, India played without a jersey sponsor. This gap highlights how fast BCCI needed a new brand after Dream11’s exit.
The Dream11 exit raises important questions about regulatory risk in sports sponsorships. When governments change laws affecting entire industries, sponsorship contracts can collapse overnight. This case study shows both the volatility and resilience of Indian cricket’s commercial value.
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Apollo Tyres won the Team India jersey sponsorship with a bid of ₹579 crore, beating Canva (₹544 crore) and JK Cements (₹477 crore).
The deal covers 142 matches in total — 121 bilateral games and 21 ICC matches, for both men’s and women’s national teams.
Dream11 exited because the Online Gaming Bill passed in August 2025 banned money-based gaming sponsorships and advertisements.
BCCI announced Apollo Tyres as the new sponsor on September 16, 2025. The deal runs until March 2028.
Canva bid ₹544 crore for the Team India jersey, which was ₹35 crore less than Apollo Tyres’ winning bid of ₹579 crore.
