Team India might take the field at the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 without a sponsor logo on their jerseys, a rare sight in modern cricket. The uncertainty comes after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, passed by Parliament and approved by the President, placed a blanket ban on fantasy sports operators and other real-money gaming platforms from advertising or operating in India.
With the law now in effect, the BCCI is waiting for clarity on whether Dream11, the team’s lead sponsor, can continue its association. Dream11 had signed a massive ₹358 crore, three-year jersey deal with the BCCI in July 2023. However, the company has already shut down its cash-based fantasy contests in India following the new legislation.
If the official notification enforces the ban before the Asia Cup begins on September 9 in the UAE, the players may walk out in plain jerseys for the first time in years. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stressed that it was “too early to comment” and highlighted that the law would only come into force once the government issues a notification.
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“If it happens before the Asia Cup, we will then have to take the next course of action,” he told Hindustan Times. Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, still holds the rights until the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and owns other ventures, such as a luxury sports travel brand, that could potentially replace Dream11’s logo on the kit.
But as one industry insider pointed out, the entire purpose of the sponsorship was to promote fantasy cricket during marquee events. “If their main business is outlawed, spending big on sponsorship won’t make sense,” he said. Dream11 has declined to comment publicly on the matter.
Should Dream11 withdraw, the BCCI may float fresh bids for a new jersey sponsor, but officials admit it will be difficult to secure a high-value deal on such short notice. Some within the board even suggest it may be wiser to play without a sponsor temporarily than to settle for a low-profile agreement.
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Notably, the team’s previous short-term arrangement with Killer Jeans failed to generate much traction in the market. On the other hand, the board’s ₹625 crore IPL deal with My11Circle remains unaffected and runs until 2028, giving the BCCI more time to explore potential alternatives for the league if required.
