In the high-octane world of Indian cricket, where every boundary and sponsorship deal packs a punch, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has just shifted gears. On September 16, 2025, the cricket governing body unveiled Apollo Tyres as the new official jersey sponsor for the Indian national teams—men’s, women’s, and even India A. This landmark agreement, valued at a staggering ₹579 crore (approximately US$65.7 million), marks a significant upgrade from the previous arrangement and signals a robust recovery in sponsorship revenue streams. Coming hot on the heels of Dream11’s abrupt departure, the deal not only fills a visible void on the players’ kits but also underscores the evolving landscape of sports branding in India.
The announcement couldn’t have been timelier. Team India has been navigating recent international fixtures without a prominent chest logo, a stark reminder of the sponsorship drought triggered by regulatory headwinds. As fans tuned into the Asia Cup and the women’s series against Australia, the absence of a main sponsor felt like a missed gear in the otherwise flawless machinery of Indian cricket. Enter Apollo Tyres, a homegrown automotive giant ready to rubber-stamp its presence on the global stage through the sport’s most passionate followers.
The Dream11 Debacle: A Regulatory Roadblock
To understand the significance of this pivot, one must rewind to late August 2025, when Dream11, the fantasy gaming behemoth, pulled the plug on its BCCI sponsorship. The fantasy platform, which had inked a three-year deal worth around ₹325 crore in 2023, became collateral damage in India’s tightening grip on online gaming. The Online Gaming Bill, enacted earlier that year, imposed stringent regulations on real-money gaming activities, classifying them under a more restrictive framework that threatened Dream11’s core business model. This legislation aimed to curb addiction and financial risks but sent shockwaves through the industry, forcing operators like Dream11 to reassess high-profile endorsements.
BCCI officials were caught off-guard. Representatives from Dream11 visited the board’s Mumbai headquarters to formally notify them of the exit, leaving the organization scrambling for a replacement ahead of key tournaments. The termination was abrupt—BCCI Secretary Jay Shah later revealed that the contract had to be “abruptly cut” due to the bill’s prohibitions on money-based online gaming promotions. For bilateral series and ICC events, Dream11 had been contributing roughly ₹3.5 crore per game for non-World Cup matches and ₹1.5 crore for marquee ICC clashes. The void not only dented aesthetics but also pinched the purse strings, as sponsorships form a critical pillar of BCCI’s revenue architecture.
In the weeks following, BCCI opened bids from a competitive field, including digital design tool Canva and rival tyre maker JK Tyre. Apollo Tyres emerged victorious, clinching the rights in a bidding war that highlighted the allure of associating with India’s cricket juggernaut. The new pact, spanning two and a half years until March 2028, represents a 62% hike over Dream11’s valuation, injecting fresh vitality into the board’s coffers.
Apollo Tyres: From Kerala Roots to Global Tread
Apollo Tyres isn’t a newcomer to the sponsorship arena, but this foray into cricket’s frontlines elevates its profile exponentially. Founded in 1972 by Onkar Kanwar in Thrissur, Kerala, the company kicked off operations with a modest factory in Perambra, commissioning its first plant in 1975. Headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, Apollo has since ballooned into a multinational powerhouse, manufacturing high-performance tyres for passenger cars, trucks, and off-road vehicles. Its portfolio boasts two flagship brands: the eponymous Apollo, synonymous with durability and innovation, and Vredestein, a premium Dutch marque acquired in 2009 for €250 million, adding a layer of European sophistication.
Today, Apollo’s footprint spans over 100 countries, supported by manufacturing facilities in India (four plants), the Netherlands, and Hungary. The company caters to a vast network of branded outlets, exclusive dealerships, and multi-product channels, emphasizing performance, safety, and sustainability—values that resonate deeply with cricket’s ethos of precision under pressure. In fiscal year 2024, Apollo reported revenues exceeding ₹25,000 crore, with exports contributing nearly 20% to its topline, underscoring its global ambitions.
For Apollo, this sponsorship is more than branding; it’s a strategic accelerator. “The sponsorship is a powerful platform to connect with a diverse and passionate audience,” BCCI stated in its release, echoing Apollo’s own narrative of synergy between tyre technology and cricketing excellence. Imagine Virat Kohli powering through a cover drive while Apollo’s logo grips the fabric— a metaphor for the brand’s “Apterra” range of all-terrain tyres, designed for unyielding performance. Past ventures, like sponsoring the Indian football team and motorsports events, have whetted Apollo’s appetite, but cricket’s billion-plus viewership offers unparalleled visibility.
Breaking Down the Deal: Financials and Fixtures
At its core, the ₹579 crore agreement breaks down to approximately ₹4.77 crore per game, covering 121 bilateral internationals and 21 ICC encounters over the term. This per-match payout—pegged at around ₹4.5 crore in some reports—surpasses Dream11’s contributions by a healthy margin, ensuring BCCI’s financial engines hum smoothly. For context, the board’s FY24 revenues soared to ₹9,742 crore, with IPL media rights and sponsorships driving 59% of that haul. Sponsorship income alone hit ₹847 crore in the 2023 IPL season, and trends suggest a 10-12% annual uptick, fueled by digital expansions and global broadcasts.
The deal’s rollout is meticulously timed. Apollo’s logo will debut on the Indian jersey during the upcoming two-Test home series against West Indies, followed by the white-ball tour Down Under. It extends to the India A side, currently locked in a multi-format skirmish with Australia A, and will grace both men’s and women’s kits moving forward. This inclusivity aligns with BCCI’s push for gender parity in cricket, amplifying women’s game visibility amid rising investments.
Financially, it’s a coup. BCCI’s sponsorship portfolio has ballooned from ₹1,500 crore in central rights deals a decade ago to over ₹6,000 crore today, per industry estimates. Apollo’s infusion could rank among cricket’s priciest jersey pacts, trailing only IPL title sponsors like Tata but outpacing many international benchmarks. For Apollo, the ROI is baked in: exposure to 800 million-plus Indian cricket enthusiasts, plus diaspora markets in the US, UK, and Australia where Vredestein holds sway.
Broader Ripples: Sponsorship Evolution and Cricket’s Economic Engine
This transition isn’t isolated; it mirrors seismic shifts in Indian sports commerce. The Online Gaming Bill’s fallout has reshaped endorsements, nudging brands toward safer terrains like FMCG, finance, and now automobiles. Yet, BCCI’s agility in securing Apollo—amid a reported $511,000 per-game windfall—affirms cricket’s magnetic pull. Globally, the IPL’s ecosystem, valued at $18.5 billion in 2025, exemplifies this boom, with sponsorship revenues projected to climb further via tech integrations like AR broadcasts.
For Team India, the sponsor swap could subtly boost morale. A unified kit, emblazoned with a legacy brand, fosters that intangible team spirit. Rohit Sharma and Co., fresh from Asia Cup triumphs, will carry Apollo into high-stakes battles, potentially fueling another World Cup charge. On the women’s front, where Harmanpreet Kaur’s squad eyes Olympic integration, such backing accelerates infrastructure growth.
Critics might quibble over the tyre giant’s environmental footprint—tyre production’s carbon emissions are under scrutiny—but Apollo’s sustainability pledges, including recycled rubber initiatives, temper concerns. Moreover, in a nation where cricket doubles as economic barometer, this deal fortifies BCCI’s role as a revenue behemoth, funding grassroots academies and state associations.
Revving Towards 2028: A New Chapter Unfolds
As the sun sets on Dream11’s tenure, Apollo Tyres’ entry heralds a revved-up era for Indian cricket. This ₹579 crore alliance isn’t just ink on paper; it’s a testament to resilience, blending automotive grit with sporting glory. Fans, from Mumbai’s Wankhede faithful to Sydney’s expatriate enclaves, can look forward to kits that symbolize progress—gripping the future one stitch at a time.
In the grand tapestry of T20 blitzes and Test marathons, sponsorships like this ensure the game’s engine never sputters. By March 2028, Apollo might not just adorn jerseys but inspire a generation of drivers—both on the pitch and the road. For now, though, it’s full throttle ahead. India, meet your new co-pilot.
