After Dream11’s exit, the big question is - who will be the next lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team? Let’s take a look at the contenders in line.
Reportedly, Toyota is among the frontrunners. The company has sponsored several cricketing events in recent years and could see this as a golden opportunity to strengthen its consumer connect in India.
There’s also an unnamed fintech startup showing strong interest in becoming Team India’s jersey sponsor. While the exact name isn’t clear yet, speculation points towards players like Zerodha, Angel One, or Groww.
Another heavyweight in the mix is Reliance. Apart from owning Mumbai Indians, Reliance also dominates the IPL’s broadcasting space through JioHotstar. But if Reliance enters the race, Tata and the Adani Group might be ready to challenge them head-on.
Meanwhile, FMCG giants, particularly those in food, beverages, and personal care, are also lining up. At the top of this list is Pepsi, a brand that has a long history with sports sponsorships in India.
After the introduction of the Online Gaming Bill, Dream11 had to exit as Team India’s lead sponsor. With the Asia Cup just around the corner, the BCCI won’t wait too long before finalising a new sponsor. The only question is—who will land this mega, high-visibility deal?
Dream11’s footprint in sports went far beyond just its association with the BCCI. The platform was deeply embedded in the sporting ecosystem, sponsoring multiple IPL franchises as well as several top athletes. Its roster of brand ambassadors has featured some of the biggest names in Indian cricket, including MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah. Back in 2020, when Chinese smartphone maker Vivo pulled out amid India-China tensions, Dream11 even stepped in as the IPL’s title sponsor.
And it wasn’t limited to India either. Internationally, Dream11 has served as the official fantasy partner of the Caribbean Premier League and taken on the title sponsorship of New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition, the Super Smash. The challenge now is that, unlike the IPL, many of these tournaments don’t enjoy the same level of financial muscle, which could make the months ahead particularly tough for them to sustain.
