The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially floated a tender for the Indian cricket team’s jersey sponsorship, weeks after Dream11 exited following the government’s ban on real-money gaming companies under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025.
In its guidelines, the BCCI has barred several categories of companies from bidding. These include:
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Online gaming, betting, fantasy sports and crypto firms
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Tobacco companies
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Banks, sportswear/athleisure brands, cold beverages, appliances, safety locks, and insurance firms
The restrictions are aimed at avoiding conflicts with existing sponsors and ensuring compliance with new regulatory norms. Importantly, the BCCI has also clarified that no surrogate branding will be permitted, warning that bids submitted through indirect brand names, logos, or alternate entities will be rejected.
To qualify, companies must have a minimum net worth or average turnover of Rs 300 crore. The last date to purchase the Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI) is September 12, while the bidding process may be conducted on September 16.
This means the Indian cricket team will take the field without a jersey sponsor during the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled from September 9–28.
The move signals the BCCI’s intent to streamline sponsorship categories while safeguarding partnerships with its existing brand ecosystem.
