Apollo Tyres Becomes Indian Cricket Team's New Lead Sponsor in ₹579 Crore Deal
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has signed Apollo Tyres as the new lead sponsor for the national cricket team. The deal, valued at ₹579 crore, will run for two and a half years until March 2028. Apollo Tyres replaces the online gaming platform Dream11, whose contract was impacted by new government regulations on real money gaming. The tyre brand's logo will now feature on the jerseys of both the men's and women's teams.
Unpacked:
Recent Indian government regulations imposed stricter rules and higher taxes on real money gaming platforms, increasing regulatory scrutiny and financial pressure on companies like Dream11. These changes have made it harder for gaming firms to sustain high-value sponsorships, leading some to exit deals like the BCCI contract, and reflect broader concerns over gambling addiction and consumer protection in the sector.
The Apollo Tyres deal is valued at ₹579 crore over 2.5 years, averaging about ₹4.5 crore per match. This is slightly higher than Dream11’s ₹4 crore per match and similar to earlier deals with Byju’s and Oppo, but still below Sahara’s peak (₹3.34 crore per match in 2010, adjusted for inflation). These figures highlight the Indian team’s enduring status as a premium sponsorship property in global sports.
Several past sponsors, including Sahara, Byju’s, and Dream11, have encountered financial or regulatory difficulties after their tenure. Sahara’s business empire faced collapse, Byju’s struggled with financial and governance issues, and Dream11 was impacted by gaming regulations. While not directly caused by the sponsorship, these cases show that high-profile deals often coincide with broader corporate or sectoral challenges.
Sponsoring both teams signals a commitment to gender equality in sports and aligns with growing interest in women’s cricket in India. It also maximizes brand visibility across all national matches, reflecting the commercial value and rising profile of the women’s game. This dual sponsorship is becoming more common as brands seek to engage diverse audiences and support cricket’s development at all levels.