Team India goes to the Asian Cup without sponsor while Dream11 confirms

Fantasy gaming platform Dream11 reportedly informed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that it will no longer be able to be Team India’s title sponsor. The decision comes after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill was passed by the Parliament and is now a law after receiving the signature of president Draupadi Murmu. Dream11’s withdrawal will now mean that the Men in Blue will play in the Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to begin on September 9, without any sponsors.

Dream11 ends deal with BCCI

As per The Indian Express, representatives of Dream11 visited the BCCI office and told chief executive officer Hemang Amin that they won’t be able to continue sponsoring Team India. As a result of the fantasy gaming platform ending their association with the BCCI, the Men in Blue are currently left without a sponsor. A BCCI official told the publication that the board will soon float a new tender to find other sponsors.

“(Representatives of) Dream11 visited the BCCI office and informed CEO Hemang Amin that they won’t be able to continue… As a result, they won’t be the team’s sponsors for the Asia Cup. The BCCI will float a new tender soon,” a BCCI official said.

Dream11 replaced troubled ed-tech giant Byju’s in 2023 to secure the India Cricket Team’s lead sponsorship deal for Rs 358 crore or Rs 3 crore per home match and Rs 1 crore for away games. A BCCI official told the publication that Dream11 will pay no penalty due to an early withdrawal as the contract includes a clause which stipulates that if the sponsor’s core business is impacted by any law brought by the Government, they “won’t be liable to pay anything” to the cricket board.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 aims to ban real-money online gaming. It also prohibits companies from placing ads.