BCCI seeks new lead sponsor for Team India, bids open till Sept 16

BCCI has invited bids for Team India's lead sponsor rights after Dream11's exit, with bids open till September 16 and restrictions on certain business categories

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday invited bids for Team India’s lead sponsor rights after the exit of Dream11 due to a legislation banning real-money gaming.

 

After the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, BCCI had added real-money gaming as another category to its ineligibility list.

 

BCCI did not disclose the financial details for the lead sponsorship rights. However, according to media reports, it is seeking a new sponsorship deal worth around ₹452 crore.

 

Interested entities from India can purchase ‘Invitation for Expression of Interest for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights’ (IEOI) from September 2 to September 12 for ₹5,90,000, while foreign entities can purchase it for $5,675.

 

Final bid documents from interested entities will be submitted to BCCI by September 16.

 

At the same time, the interested companies or brands must have an average turnover of ₹300 crore as per its last three years’ audited accounts, or its average net worth should be ₹300 crore as per its last three years’ audited accounts, according to BCCI’s website.

 

On Monday, two people familiar with the matter said that Toyota Kirloskar Motor, the joint venture between Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and India’s Kirloskar group, is exploring the possibility of becoming Team India’s lead sponsor.

 

Brands or companies from sectors like athleisure and sportswear manufacturing, banks and banking and financial services and non-banking financial services, non-alcoholic cold beverages, home appliances like fans, mixer grinders and safety locks, or insurance cannot bid for the lead sponsorship rights as BCCI already has brands in these segments in other sponsorship slots.

 

However, an existing sponsor with BCCI in these categories can bid for lead sponsor rights.

 

For now, Team India might start the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup from September 9, without having a sponsor logo on the front of their jerseys.