Indian tyre manufacturer Apollo Tyres has been confirmed as the new jersey sponsor for the Indian men’s cricket team, taking over from Dream11 following a government clampdown on real money gaming platforms. The agreement, which spans three years, is valued at Rs 579 crore, marking one of the most lucrative deals in Indian cricket history.

The development comes after Dream11’s exit from the sponsorship space, which was triggered by the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025. The law prohibits the operation, promotion, or advertisement of online real-money gaming services in India. The legislation states that “no person shall offer any, aid, abet, induce, indulge, engage in offering online money gaming services nor shall involve in any advertisement which directly or indirectly promotes any person to play any online money game.”

In the absence of a sponsor, the Indian team is currently playing the Asia Cup in the UAE without any branding on their jerseys. A senior BCCI official confirmed the new deal, saying, “The deal has been signed with Apollo Tyres. We will announce it soon.”

Apollo Tyres, headquartered in Gurugram and with manufacturing units both in India and Europe, outbid competitors including Canva (Rs 544 crore) and JK Cements (Rs 477 crore) to secure the sponsorship rights. The BCCI had issued an invitation for expressions of interest earlier this month after removing real-money gaming firms from the eligibility pool. Also excluded from bidding were businesses associated with cryptocurrency, alcohol, tobacco, and certain consumer goods categories.

The agreement covers a total of 130 international matches, which includes 121 bilateral fixtures and 21 ICC tournaments, with Apollo Tyres set to pay approximately Rs 4.5 crore per match, surpassing Dream11’s Rs 4 crore per game commitment under the previous arrangement.

Apollo’s branding will first appear on the team jersey during India’s upcoming Test series against the West Indies, beginning on October 2, as well as in the India A vs Australia A ODIs in Kanpur.

Though the men’s sponsorship deal is confirmed, there remains uncertainty regarding whether the Indian women’s cricket team will also wear Apollo-branded kits in the Women’s World Cup, starting September 30 in India and Sri Lanka.

The BCCI’s sponsorship hunt was hastened after Dream11 terminated its deal following the implementation of the new gaming law. With fantasy sports platforms now unable to operate or advertise money-based games, their financial involvement in Indian sports has sharply declined.

Despite playing without a sponsor in the Asia Cup, the Indian men’s side has made a strong start, registering wins over both UAE and Pakistan. Their next match is scheduled against Oman on September 19. Meanwhile, the women’s team, who lost their opening game against defending champions Australia in Mullanpur, will look to recover in their second match on September 17.

This landmark partnership with Apollo Tyres signals a fresh chapter for Indian cricket’s commercial landscape, as the sport distances itself from controversial categories and aligns with a globally recognised, homegrown brand.