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Apollo Tyres has been locked in as the new jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team for a period of two and a half years following the exit of online gaming platform Dream 11.
The BCCI was left without a shirt sponsor for the team after the government banned real money gaming platforms, including Dream 11, under a new legislation. The team is currently playing the Asia Cup in Dubai without a title sponsor.
"The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced a landmark partnership with Apollo Tyres, a leader in the global tyre industry, as the new lead Sponsor of Team India," said the BCCI in a statement.
This marks Apollo Tyres' first-ever foray into Indian cricket, a strategic move to align with a sport that resonates deeply with the nation. It is reliably learnt that the deal that will run through March 2028 is valued at Rs 579 crore, higher than the Rs 358 crore agreement with Dream 11 for the same duration. The deal with the tyre major covers 121 bilateral games and 21 ICC games.
As per the deal, Apollo Tyres will pay approximately Rs 4.5 crore per match to the BCCI, surpassing Dream 11's earlier payment of Rs 4 crore per fixture. The base price set by the BCCI was Rs 3.5 crore for bilateral matches and Rs 1.5 crore for World Cup games.
Previous Sponsors And Their Rise, Fall And Lessons
ITC Limited (1993–2001)
The BCCI’s first major jersey sponsorship arrived in 1993, when ITC Limited came on board through its Wills brand and ITC Hotels division. Under the deal, the company paid Rs 35 lakh for every Test match and Rs 32 lakh for each ODI, marking a significant commercial milestone for Indian cricket.
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The association continued until 2001, when government regulations barred tobacco companies from sponsoring sporting events, forcing ITC to withdraw from the partnership.
Sahara India (2001–2013)
In June 2001, Sahara India replaced ITC as Team India’s jersey sponsor, ushering in a new era of big-money deals in cricket. By 2010, the sponsorship value had soared, with Sahara paying around Rs 3.34 crore for every international match.
Over time, Sahara got entangled in massive regulatory and legal troubles. Subrata Roy, the head of Sahara, was involved in prolonged disputes with SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) over funds collected from investors.
However, after over a decade of association, growing differences with the BCCI brought the partnership to an end in 2013.
Star India (2014–2017)
Star India entered the frame in 2014 after outbidding several rivals to secure the sponsorship rights. Under the agreement, BCCI earned Rs 1.92 crore for every bilateral match and Rs 61 lakh for each ICC game. The partnership ran until early 2017, bringing steady revenues before the baton passed to the next sponsor.
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Oppo Mobiles (2017–2019)
The Chinese smartphone giant Oppo made headlines in 2017 by signing a record-breaking Rs 1,079 crore contract with BCCI.
As part of the deal, the board received Rs 4.61 crore per bilateral fixture and Rs 1.51 crore per ICC match. Despite the lucrative agreement, Oppo exited the sponsorship after just two years, citing strategic reasons.
Byju’s (2019–2023)
Ed-tech major Byju’s took over as Team India’s jersey sponsor in mid-2019. The deal, seen as a big boost for a homegrown startup, ran for three and a half years. However, amid financial troubles, the partnership concluded in March 2023, ending Byju’s high-profile stint in Indian cricket.
Dream11 (2023–2025)
Fantasy sports leader Dream11 replaced Byju’s in 2023 with a Rs 358 crore deal covering 158 matches. The company paid Rs 4 crore for each bilateral game and Rs 1 crore for every ICC fixture. But the sponsorship was cut short when the government introduced a ban on real-money gaming platforms through the Online Gaming Bill, leading BCCI to terminate the contract in 2025.
