With Apollo Tyres bagging the Team India jersey sponsorship until 2027 at a record ₹4.5 crore per match, questions are now being raised over a potential conflict of interest for some of India’s biggest cricketing stars.
The issue stems from the fact that Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli are all individually sponsored by rival tyre brands — MRF and CEAT. Kohli has long been associated with MRF, with the iconic bat sticker being one of the most visible sponsorships in cricket. Rohit Sharma also endorses CEAT, while Shubman Gill recently signed up with the same brand, continuing the long-standing MRF presence in Indian cricket.
Now, with Apollo Tyres’ logo set to appear on India’s jerseys, the overlap creates a curious branding clash. While on the field, the players will wear the Indian jersey with Apollo prominently displayed, their bats will still carry the rival logos.
Experts believe this won’t breach any rules as personal endorsements and team sponsorships operate in separate silos. However, it does raise an interesting dynamic: India’s top three batters will be simultaneously promoting Apollo’s competitors through their bats, even as they carry Apollo on their national jerseys.
This isn’t the first time Indian cricket has faced such brand crossovers. In the past, kit sponsors and personal sponsors have often been rivals, but with tyres being such a visible category — on both jerseys and bats — the Apollo vs MRF vs CEAT face-off could spark plenty of chatter in the coming months.
For Apollo Tyres, though, the deal ensures their visibility across all Indian matches, making the brand a constant fixture in global cricket broadcasts, regardless of individual bat stickers.
