Shamik Chakrabarty, Mumbai
The BCCI has invited tenders for Team India’s lead sponsor and the list of don’ts is long. The prohibited brand categories are: “i) Ww Alcohol Products; (ii) Betting or Gambling Services; (iii) Cryptocurrency; (iv) Online Money Gaming or any such activities prohibited under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025; (v) Tobacco; and (vi) one which is likely to offend public morals such as, including but not limited to, pornography.”
The “Expression of Interest” for lead sponsorship has been called for in the wake of Dream11’s departure. The fantasy sports platform that had a Rs 358-crore three-year deal running through 2026, left in the wake of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 that banned real-money online gaming. The Indian team would be without a sponsor at the Asia Cup, but that’s not a major issue. The BCCI is wealthy enough to take the hit and more importantly, it will not do anything that contravenes the law of the land.
“Bidder, including any of its Group companies: (i) should not be engaged in online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services in India or anywhere in the world; (ii) should not provide any online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services to any Person in India; and (iii) should not have any investment or ownership interest in any Person engaged in betting or gambling services in India,” stated the cricket board press release.
The fantasy sports platforms were investing big in cricket, sport for that matter. Now that option is closed, and it narrows down the field for the BCCI in terms of inviting sponsors. Indian cricket is one of the world’s biggest sporting brands and there would be no dearth of investors, but with regards to having a significant jump in sponsorship revenue for the next cycle, the situation can be tricky.
But a new field should open up against the backdrop of the current geopolitical recalibration. “There are no permanent friends or enemies, only permanent interests in international ties,” defence minister Rajnath Singh said only a few days ago, with India resetting its bilateral ties with China. At a micro level, and if we focus on cricket, it opens up big business potential for the BCCI.
India is warming up to Chinese investments amid the United States tariff pressure, and Chinese companies might make a beeline to be part of Indian cricket, one of the country’s most lucrative properties. Former BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale agreed. “Absolutely. I think it’s a good business opportunity for the BCCI,” he said. “When the government is having ties with China, then the BCCI shouldn’t have any problem.”
Earlier, Vivo, a Chinese mobile and technology company had the IPL’s title sponsorship for the period of 2017-2022 for approximately $341 million. In 2020, however, the deal was suspended for a year in the aftermath of the military clashes at the India-China border.
Of late, the two countries have shown signs to move on from the past. Hypothetically, if a Chinese company becomes Team India’s lead sponsor going ahead, a fan backlash is unlikely.
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