The Indian cricket team might enter the Asia Cup 2025 without a jersey sponsor, as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) aims for a long-term deal instead of a short-term agreement. The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to September 28.
Sponsorship Void The current situation arose after the Indian government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, which led to Dream11 ending its partnership with the BCCI. Dream11 and My11Circle had been contributing approximately ₹1,000 crore through sponsorships linked to the national team and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Dream11 had signed a ₹358 crore deal for the 2023-2026 cycle as Team India's title sponsor.
BCCI's Response In response to Dream11's departure, the BCCI held an emergency Apex Council meeting on August 28, chaired by interim president Rajeev Shukla, to discuss the next steps. During the meeting, officials explored the possibility of onboarding a new sponsor. However, the tight timeline makes securing a sponsor before the Asia Cup challenging.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the board cannot continue its sponsorship relationship with Dream11 or similar gaming companies due to the new government regulations. The BCCI is now focusing on finding a sponsor for a longer term, potentially up to the 2027 ODI World Cup. The board is reportedly targeting a front-of-jersey sponsorship package valued at around ₹450–452 crore (approximately $51.03m – 51.26m) for the 2025–2028 cycle. This deal would cover approximately 140 matches, including home and away bilateral series and ICC/ACC events. Proposed rates are set at ₹3.5 crore (approximately $396,915.40) per bilateral fixture and ₹1.5 crore (approximately $170,106.60) per ICC/ACC game.
Potential Sponsors Several companies have emerged as potential contenders to replace Dream11 as the Indian cricket team's jersey sponsor. These include: * Toyota Motor Corporation: Toyota has already been associated with cricket, sponsoring the jerseys of the Australian and England cricket teams. * Fintech Startups: An unnamed fintech startup has also shown interest in becoming the title sponsor. * Tata Group, Reliance, and Adani Group: These legacy companies have a strong presence in India and have been investing in sports. * Automobile and FMCG Companies: Major automobile producers like Mahindra, and FMCG brands such as Pepsi, are also potential contenders.
Asia Cup 2025 Details The Asia Cup 2025 will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The Dubai International Cricket Stadium will host 11 matches, including the final, while the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will host 8 matches. The tournament will feature eight teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong. India is the defending champion.
India will begin their campaign against UAE on September 10. The highly-anticipated India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for September 14 in Dubai.
With the Asia Cup 2025 just around the corner, it remains to be seen whether the BCCI will be able to secure a new jersey sponsor in time or if the Indian team will play without one.
