New Delhi: Dream11 ended its sponsorship of the Indian cricket team after the Online Gaming Bill. The BCCI is now left to seek a new sponsor before the Asia Cup. On Monday, the BCCI officially ended its association with Dream11, while stating that the board will not enter into such collaborations in the future. Barely a fortnight left for the Asia Cup in the UAE, the Indian team is currently without a title sponsor.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed the development to ANI. “BCCI and Dream 11 are discontinuing their relationship after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed. BCCI will ensure not to indulge with any such organisations in future,” he told ANI.
Reports also claimed that the sponsor’s decision to pull out is unlikely to be penalised. If reports are to be believed, a clause in their contract states that if the sponsor’s core business is affected by a change in law enforced by the Indian government, they ‘won’t be liable to pay anything’ to the cricket board.
According to previous media reports, Dream11 representatives visited the BCCI office in Mumbai and informed the board CEO about their end of contract. The Indian board is likely to issue a new tender soon.
“(Representatives of) Dream11 visited the BCCI office and informed CEO Hemang Amin that they won’t be able to continue… As a result, they won’t be the team’s sponsors for the Asia Cup. The BCCI will float a new tender soon,” a BCCI official told the Indian Express
Dream11, founded 18 years ago and now valued at $8 billion, became BCCI’s lead sponsor in July 2023. It replaced edtech firm Byju’s with a three-year deal worth ₹358 crore. Besides the Indian team, they also ventured into the IPL. They roped in several top players like Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant and Jasprit Bumrah as their brand ambassadors. In 2020, they even became the trophy sponsor of the IPL after replacing Vivo, a Chinese company.
Dream 11 also has a presence in foreign leagues, including the Caribbean Premier League and Super Smash. They also have footprints in the Australian domestic T20 competition. They also partnered with the International Cricket Council in 2018.
Dream11 also has deals in the Indian Super League and is associated with the Pro Kabaddi League and the International Hockey Federation.
