The Indian government’s recent ban on real-money gaming under the Online Gaming Bill is poised to become one of the most impactful economic decisions in the history of cricket. The move will reverberate across the entire cricket ecosystem, affecting everything from top-tier players to emerging leagues that relied heavily on sponsorships from fantasy gaming platforms.

Rohit Sharma, for instance, was Dream11’s marquee athlete, reportedly earning between ₹6–7 crore annually before the Online Gaming Bill came into effect. With Dream11 withdrawing its sponsorship of India’s national team jersey, the first visible gap in cricket’s financial landscape has appeared.

Companies such as Dream11, My11Circle, and other competitors have long been integral to high-level cricket operations, including lucrative deals with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and individual endorsements for some of the sport’s biggest stars under the BCCI. A report from Cricbuzz highlights the significant monetary impact on players, as these gaming companies are expected to pivot their focus overseas.

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Fans may recall the frequent ads during IPL seasons, showcasing top players endorsing fantasy gaming platforms. These campaigns were not only highly visible but also immensely profitable. With the ban, Indian cricketers could collectively lose between ₹150–200 crore in annual endorsement revenue.

Many Indian cricketers had deals with fantasy sports platforms like Dream11, MPL and others. Kohli’s MPL contract was worth ₹10–12 cr, Dhoni earned ₹6–7 cr from another platform, while younger players made around ₹1 cr. As per Cricbuzz, players may lose ₹150–200 cr a year,… pic.twitter.com/eO6cVDlZFb

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The financial hit will be most severe for leading figures like Virat Kohli, who earns ₹10–12 crore per year through his MPL deal, and former captains Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, who earned ₹6–7 crore each from Dream11 and Winzo, respectively. While these established stars will likely find alternative sponsorships, younger players could face far more significant losses.

Many earn up to ₹1 crore annually from these fantasy gaming companies, which for some represents a substantial portion—or even the entirety—of their endorsement income.

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Cricbuzz notes that players like Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar may see up to a third of their endorsement revenue wiped out due to the ban. For emerging cricketers, this sudden financial vacuum could affect career planning and earnings potential, highlighting how intertwined the world of fantasy gaming had become with professional cricket in India.