The cricketing world was taken by surprise when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the termination of its high-profile jersey sponsorship deal with Dream11, valued at INR 358 crore. The decision came in the wake of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which effectively bans all real-money gaming activities, including fantasy sports, in India. With this development, India’s national cricket team suddenly finds itself without a jersey sponsor just weeks before the Asia Cup 2025.

This move not only signals the end of one of cricket’s most lucrative commercial partnerships but also highlights the far-reaching consequences of India’s new gaming law.

Why the BCCI–Dream11 Partnership Mattered

Dream11, owned by Dream Sports, is one of the world’s largest fantasy gaming platforms. The company had signed a three-year deal with the BCCI in 2023, making it the official jersey sponsor of the Indian men’s cricket team.

At INR 358 crore, the deal was one of the most significant sponsorships in Indian cricket, positioning Dream11 alongside some of the biggest brands that have historically supported the sport. Beyond financials, the partnership also reflected how fantasy gaming had become mainstream in India, with millions of fans engaging in virtual cricket contests parallel to live matches.

For the BCCI, the association with Dream11 was not just about money—it was about tapping into a younger, digitally savvy audience that viewed fantasy cricket as an extension of their fandom.

The Impact of the Online Gaming Bill 2025

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, changed everything. Passed earlier this year, the bill makes it illegal to offer, operate, or even promote online money games in India. The provisions are sweeping in scope, covering both games of skill and chance.

Key Features of the Bill

• Complete ban on online money-based games, irrespective of whether skill or chance is involved.

• Prohibition of advertising such platforms across all forms of media, including digital and print.

• Ban on financial transactions, with banks and payment systems barred from processing payments to gaming companies.

• Blocking powers granted to authorities under the Information Technology Act, 2000, to restrict access to such platforms.

For Dream11, whose business model revolves around paid fantasy sports contests, these regulations created an existential crisis. For the BCCI, continuing the sponsorship would have meant direct violation of the law, leading to both financial and reputational risks.

Mutual Decision to Part Ways

According to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, the decision to end the partnership was inevitable once the bill became law. "BCCI and Dream11 are discontinuing their relationship after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, was passed. BCCI will ensure not to indulge with any such organisations ahead in future," he confirmed.

Industry insiders suggest the termination was a mutual decision, as both sides recognized the legal and ethical complications of continuing the deal. Dream11 chose not to issue a public statement, a move that reflects both the sensitivity of the situation and the company’s uncertain future in the Indian market.

What This Means for Indian Cricket

The immediate impact of the termination is visible on the field. With the Asia Cup beginning in the UAE on September 9, the Indian cricket team is suddenly without a jersey sponsor. Unless the BCCI signs a new partner in the next fortnight, the team could take the field without a commercial logo on its jerseys—a rare sight in modern cricket.

This development also raises larger questions about sponsorship strategies in Indian cricket. Fantasy gaming companies like Dream11 had emerged as major backers of the sport in recent years, often outbidding traditional sponsors from industries such as telecom, beverages, and finance. With the new law in place, the BCCI will need to pivot toward safer, regulation-friendly sectors.

The Larger Industry Shockwave

The termination of the Dream11 deal is not an isolated incident but a reflection of how India’s online gaming industry is being reshaped by legislation. Once valued at billions of dollars, the fantasy gaming market now faces an uncertain future.

Banks have already begun blocking financial transactions to gaming platforms, making it impossible for companies to operate even in a limited capacity. For consumers, this means the end of fantasy cricket contests that had become a cultural phenomenon during IPL and international tournaments.

Companies that thrived on sponsorships, influencer marketing, and fan engagement will now need to rethink their strategies—or risk shutting down.

What Lies Ahead for BCCI Sponsorships?

The BCCI remains one of the most attractive sports bodies in the world, with unmatched visibility and fan engagement. While Dream11’s exit is significant, it opens up opportunities for other brands to step in. Industries like e-commerce, fintech, and consumer goods could become prime candidates to replace fantasy gaming companies in cricket sponsorships.

However, time is running out before the Asia Cup. Whether the BCCI manages to secure a new sponsor before the tournament remains to be seen. If not, India may enter the competition without the financial and symbolic backing that comes from a jersey sponsor.

Conclusion: A Turning Point for Sports and Gaming in India

The end of the INR 358 crore BCCI–Dream11 deal is more than a sponsorship story—it represents a turning point in the intersection of sports, law, and digital innovation in India. While the Online Gaming Bill aims to curb risks associated with gambling and addiction, it also disrupts a rapidly growing industry that had integrated itself deeply into India’s sporting culture.

For cricket, the challenge now lies in finding new commercial partners that align with both public sentiment and government regulations. For gaming companies, survival will depend on how quickly they can adapt—or diversify—beyond real-money gaming.

The road ahead may be uncertain, but one thing is clear: the Indian sports sponsorship landscape will never look the same again.