Apollo Tyres was on Tuesday named as the lead sponsor of India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams after the BCCI announced a record Rs 579 crore three-year deal with them.
After the government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 in August, Dream11 had exited its sponsorship deal, forcing BCCI to look for a replacement. As per the new deal, Apollo Tyres will pay Rs 4.5 crore per game, higher than what Dream11 paid (Rs 4 crore).
When the BCCI floated the tenders earlier this month, there were doubts whether it would be able to receive a sum in the vicinity of what Dream11 was paying. And despite BCCI making it clear that it won’t entertain bids from companies in the gaming, betting, crypto, tobacco, sportswear, non-alcoholic cold beverages sectors, it received plenty of interest which proved that the Indian cricket team remains the most popular brand that top corporate houses want to partner.
Before Dream11, the other lead sponsors that the BCCI had were Sahara, Star, Oppo and Byju’s. With the exception of Star which had the deal between January 2014 and March 2017, the BCCI had to look for alternatives midway through the deal for various reasons. From geopolitical tensions to firms unable to pay the agreed sum, BCCI had to keep searching for a new sponsor. Having a brand like Apollo Tyres also brings with it stability and face value that the BCCI deems fit.
