The fantasy sports platform, Dream11 has withdrawn from its INR 358-crore ‘lead sponsorship’ deal with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Indian apex cricket governing entity. The ruling comes after India passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which forbids all real-money online games, including fantasy sports, as well as their advertising and sponsorships.
The newly implemented regulation put Dream11’s sponsorship arrangement in hazards by prohibiting any advertising or promotion of its primary business, real-money gaming. Faced with this new regulatory landscape, Dream11 began negotiations with the BCCI to terminate the contract, claiming sections in the agreement that protected the company from penalties in the event of government-mandated business disruptions.
Commenting on the topic, Nikhil Vyas, Co-Founder, ITW Sports, said, “The entry of Dream11 into Indian cricket sponsorship was an opportunistic move at a time when real-money fantasy gaming (RMG) was growing exponentially. Its exit, however, is neither surprising nor avoidable—it is in fact the only logical outcome. With the business now illegal to operate and advertise, continuing such partnerships is no longer viable. Normally, exiting high-value sponsorship deals mid-term is complex, but in this case, the regulatory stance makes it straightforward. Even the BCCI would not be able to persist with a partner whose category is now prohibited.
“That said, the front-of-shirt sponsorship of Team India remains one of the most sought-after assets in global cricket. The BCCI will move quickly to identify a replacement, and given the short turnaround time, will still expect a fair market price from the incoming sponsor. According to media reports, the leading contenders are likely to emerge from stable and compliant sectors such as automobile, brokerage/financial services, or large Indian conglomerates including the Aditya Birla Group, Tata, Toyota, Adani, JSW, or Reliance.
“One thing is clear: the BCCI will conduct a more rigorous evaluation of potential partners this time. The final decision may not rest solely on the highest bid, but also on long-term brand alignment, regulatory safety, and reputation management.”
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has underlined that the board won’t violate any laws in the future, signalling a clear break from ties to organisations affected by regulatory reforms. At the same time, the BCCI has issued invitations for fresh sponsorship proposals, however the short window before the Asia Cup (beginning September 9, 2025) increases pressure to choose a successor soon.
In July 2023, Team India inked a three-year sponsorship agreement for INR 358 crore (roughly USD 44 million) to replace BYJU’S as its principal sponsor. Aside from this, the fantasy platform has collaborated with a number of Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, the DP World ILT20, and more. Its brand influence also expanded to non-cricket businesses such as the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the NBA in India, and even hockey collaborations with the International Hockey Federation (FIH).
The exit of Dream11 represents an abrupt and significant shift in the sports sponsorship market. The BCCI now has a tight deadline to find a replacement partner as jerseys with the brand’s insignia have already been produced. The restriction, according to analysts, changes not only sponsorship dynamics but also the advertising trajectory of the fantasy gaming sector in India, which had invested billions in sports branding.
