BCCI Looking For New Title Sponsor After Ending Association With Dream11: BCCI Secretary
Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed on Monday that the board’s association with fantasy sports company Dream11 has ended, and discussions are underway to find a new lead sponsor.
Dream11 had signed a three-year deal worth ₹358 crore in July 2023 to replace edtech company Byju’s as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team. The company has also had a strong presence in the Indian Premier League (IPL), both through franchise tie-ups and as title sponsor in 2020 after Vivo’s withdrawal.
However, following the passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in Parliament last week and its subsequent approval by President Droupadi Murmu, Dream11 announced that it was suspending all money-based online gaming contests on its platform.
“Under the new legislation, it will be difficult for BCCI to continue with Dream11 or any other identical gaming companies. So, there is a roadblock and I don’t think BCCI will be able to continue with Dream11 now. We are deliberating on an alternative course of action at this stage,” Saikia told IANS.
Dream11, however, will not face any penalties, as the contract includes a clause that safeguards the sponsor in case its core business is banned by the government, exempting it from financial liability towards the BCCI.
When asked if the board would float a new tender for team sponsorship, especially with just a fortnight left before the Men’s T20 Asia Cup in the UAE from September 9–28, Saikia said, “We have not finalised anything, but we’ll have to have an alternative now. Because with Dream11 going away, there will be some vacancy in the sponsorship slot. So, we have to have an alternative, not a replacement. What we’ll have to do and how we are going to do it, on that, we are deliberating now.”
He added, “Dream 11 will not be with us anymore, under the new law. So we still have some time, at least 20 days or in fact, just about 15 days. So, if something develops within these 15-20 days, there will be a replacement. Otherwise, we’ll see how it will progress over a period of time.”
Meanwhile, uncertainty also looms over another fantasy sports company, My11Circle. Since 2024, the company has been paying ₹125 crore annually to the BCCI as the official fantasy partner of the IPL. But with money-based online gaming facing restrictions, its deal too may come under review.
