In a landmark move for Indian cricket and corporate sponsorships, Apollo Tyres has been confirmed as the new lead jersey sponsor for Team India, replacing Dream11. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) formalized the deal on 16 September 2025, in a high-stakes bidding contest that saw Apollo outbid several major brands.
Apollo tyres paying more than Dream11
The agreement is worth Rs 579 crore and spans about two and a half to three years, up to March 2028. The sponsorship covers approximately 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC fixtures. Tyres will pay about Rs 4.5 crore per match, which is higher than what Dream11 was paying previously (Rs 4 crore per match).
Why the Change happend?
The switch in sponsors follows regulatory changes: Dream11, which was Team India’s previous front-of-jersey sponsor, exited after the government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, effectively banning real-money gaming platforms’ advertisements which included Dream11’s operations.
The BCCI then opened up the jersey sponsorship rights via an Expressions of Interest (EoI) process. Categories deemed ineligible for the bidding included companies linked to online gaming, cryptocurrency, tobacco, alcohol, etc., to comply with the new legal framework.
Apollo defeated Canva
Apollo defeated other strong bidders in the process. Canva offered roughly Rs 544 crore, and JK Cements around Rs 477 crore, making Apollo’s bid stand out significantly.