Apollo Tyres sponsors Team India
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Apollo Tyres sponsors Team India Jersey, replacing Dream11 as Team India’s official jersey sponsor. This landmark sponsorship agreement, valued at nearly ₹579 crore, will run until March 2028 and cover both the men’s and women’s cricket teams across all formats.
The move comes after Dream11 was forced to step down due to new government regulations surrounding fantasy gaming sponsorships. With Apollo Tyres stepping in, Indian cricket enters a powerful new sponsorship era, where traditional industry giants are reclaiming space in one of the most lucrative sports markets in the world.
The Sponsorship Deal in Detail
The new sponsorship agreement between Apollo Tyres and the BCCI highlights the massive commercial value of Indian cricket.
- Value of the deal: ₹579 crore
- Duration: September 2025 – March 2028
- Scope: Men’s and women’s national teams, across Tests, ODIs, and T20Is
- Matches covered: 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC fixtures
- Visibility: Jerseys, training kits, and official team merchandise
This makes Apollo Tyres sponsor Team India jersey, a position that guarantees unmatched brand visibility across global cricketing platforms.
Why Did Dream11 Exit the Sponsorship?
Dream11, a fantasy gaming platform, had been one of the most prominent sponsors of Indian cricket. Its branding dominated jerseys, stadiums, and broadcast advertising. However, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, restricted fantasy sports companies from sponsoring national sports teams.
This sudden regulatory shift forced Dream11 to exit prematurely, despite having an active contract. While Dream11 remains a leading name in the fantasy gaming industry, the sponsorship ban created an immediate opportunity for Apollo Tyres to step in.
This development reflects the growing role of government policies in shaping sports sponsorships, especially in sectors like gaming and betting.
Apollo Tyres: A Brand with Global Aspirations
Founded in 1972, Apollo Tyres is one of India’s most recognized brands in the automotive sector. With a presence in over 100 countries and manufacturing facilities across India, Europe, and Africa, Apollo Tyres has steadily positioned itself as a global player in mobility solutions.
The decision to become Team India’s jersey sponsor aligns with the company’s strategy to strengthen its global identity and connect with cricket fans worldwide.
What Apollo Tyres Gains from the Deal
- Unmatched Exposure: Cricket remains India’s most watched sport, with audiences crossing 500 million during marquee tournaments like the World Cup and IPL.
- Emotional Connect: Associating with Team India allows Apollo Tyres to build a deeper emotional bond with fans, transcending traditional marketing campaigns.
- Global Branding: As Team India tours across continents, Apollo Tyres gains visibility in international markets such as England, Australia, and South Africa.
This sponsorship not only enhances Apollo Tyres’ brand recognition but also positions it as a symbol of Indian pride on the global stage.
Impact on BCCI
For the BCCI, this deal is yet another example of its financial supremacy in world cricket.
- Revenue Boost: The ₹579 crore deal surpasses the earlier Dream11 sponsorship value (₹358 crore), ensuring strong revenue flow.
- Diversification: By associating with Apollo Tyres, the BCCI diversifies its sponsorship categories beyond tech and fantasy gaming.
- Global Benchmark: The deal reinforces BCCI’s position as the world’s richest cricket board, where sponsorship rights attract global competition.
With this agreement, the BCCI demonstrates its ability to weather regulatory changes without compromising financial strength.
Historical Context: Evolution of Team India’s Jersey Sponsors
The sponsorship of Team India’s jerseys has always been a reflection of changing corporate trends.
- 1993–2001: Wills (ITC) – A tobacco brand that pioneered jersey sponsorship in Indian cricket.
- 2001–2013: Sahara India – A financial services group that became synonymous with Indian cricket.
- 2013–2017: Star India – A broadcasting giant that combined sports and media sponsorship.
- 2017–2020: Oppo – A Chinese smartphone manufacturer that highlighted the rise of tech companies.
- 2020–2025: Dream11 – A fantasy gaming platform, representing the digital gaming revolution.
- 2025–2028: Apollo Tyres – A traditional Indian manufacturing powerhouse returning sponsorships to core industry roots.
Apollo Tyres’ entry represents a shift back towards legacy brands with tangible products, signaling a more stable sponsorship era.
Global Comparison: How Does India Rank?
Sports sponsorship is not unique to India, but the commercial power of Indian cricket is unmatched globally.
- Football: Top clubs like Manchester United or Real Madrid secure deals worth over €70 million annually.
- Cricket in India: BCCI sponsorship deals easily cross ₹500 crore, making them comparable to European football sponsorships.
- Global Appeal: Unlike domestic football clubs, Team India represents 1.4 billion people, giving sponsors like Apollo Tyres an unparalleled global reach.
This demonstrates why companies are willing to spend record amounts to be associated with Team India.
Fan Reactions and Market Sentiment
The shift from Dream11 to Apollo Tyres has been received positively by many fans who prefer traditional brands over gaming platforms on the national jersey.
- Fans: Excited about a fresh look and proud of a legacy Indian brand representing the country.
- Market Analysts: View the deal as a smart brand-building exercise for Apollo Tyres.
- Critics: Argue that while the money is substantial, sponsorship revenue should also be directed toward grassroots cricket development.
Overall, the move has generated a positive buzz both in cricketing and corporate circles.
Editorial Commentary: More Than Just a Sponsorship
At first glance, this sponsorship change may look like a simple corporate swap. However, it reflects deeper trends shaping sports sponsorships in India:
- Regulation-driven shifts: Dream11’s exit proves how quickly policy changes can reshape commercial deals.
- Corporate repositioning: Apollo Tyres’ move highlights the need for traditional brands to stay relevant in the digital era.
- National pride and identity: Having an Indian brand on Team India jerseys fosters greater public acceptance compared to foreign or gaming companies.
This is more than a logo change—it is a strategic cultural shift in Indian cricket.
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Future Projections: What Lies Ahead?
The Apollo Tyres sponsors Team India is likely to influence future sports deals in several ways:
- Diversified Sponsors: Expect more traditional Indian companies from sectors like FMCG, automobiles, and banking to enter sports sponsorships.
- Increased Valuations: The ₹579 crore deal sets a new benchmark, raising the bar for future sponsorship contracts.
- Focus on Women’s Cricket: With the growing popularity of women’s cricket, Apollo Tyres’ sponsorship covers both men’s and women’s teams equally, a trend likely to continue.
- Global Expansion: As cricket grows in the US and Middle East, Apollo Tyres will leverage Team India’s tours for market expansion.
The deal reflects a future where cricket sponsorship will continue to grow in value, visibility, and global impact.
Conclusion
The replacement of Dream11 by Apollo Tyres sponsors Team India sponsor is not just a commercial shift but a powerful statement. It underlines cricket’s dominance as India’s most valuable sporting property while also showcasing how corporate partnerships evolve with regulations and consumer sentiment.
Apollo Tyres now carries not only the responsibility of being a brand sponsor but also the symbolic role of representing Indian pride every time Team India takes the field.
For the BCCI, it is business as usual: securing record-breaking deals and reinforcing its dominance in the cricketing world. For fans, the change brings a sense of nostalgia and pride as a homegrown Indian company adorns the national jersey once again.
In the ever-changing landscape of sports sponsorship, this deal may well be remembered as the moment when Indian cricket reaffirmed its global power, blending tradition with modern ambition.
