India will enter the Asia Cup 2025 without a lead sponsor following Dream11’s contract termination, prompting the BCCI to launch a new sponsorship bidding process.
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Team India to Play Asia Cup 2025 Without a Lead Sponsor
‘India’ will appear bigger and brighter on the jerseys of Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, and other players in the Asia Cup 2025, as Team India prepares to compete without a lead sponsor. The move comes after fantasy sports platform Dream11 terminated its contract with the BCCI last month, citing recent government regulations that disrupted its core business model.
While seeing Indian players without a title sponsor is common during ICC events, this will mark the first time the team competes in a non-ICC tournament without a main sponsor.
Dream11 Exit Sparks New BCCI Sponsorship Hunt Ahead of Asia Cup 2025
Dream11’s sudden exit is a direct result of the Indian government’s latest legislation—the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming bill—which bans real-money gaming. Since Dream11’s operations rely heavily on this model, the company invoked an exit clause in its agreement with the BCCI to formally withdraw. Signed in 2023, the sponsorship deal was valued at around USD 44 million (INR 358 crore) and was originally set to run until 2026.
In response, the BCCI has moved quickly to fill the vacant title sponsorship by initiating a fresh round of bidding. On September 2, it released an “Invitation to Tender” (ITT), inviting expressions of interest (EOIs) for the team’s lead sponsorship rights. Companies can purchase the ITT until September 12, with final bids due by September 16. However, the Asia Cup 2025 begins on September 9, meaning the Indian team will likely start their campaign without sponsor branding on their kits. This echoes previous mid-contract sponsorship challenges faced by the BCCI, such as OPPO’s withdrawal in 2019, which led to Byju’s stepping in before Dream11 took over.
To ensure alignment with Indian legal and cultural norms, the BCCI has set strict eligibility criteria in the ITT. Companies linked to alcohol, gambling or betting services, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco products, or offerings deemed offensive to public morals—including pornography—are barred from bidding.
Meanwhile, the Indian squad is set to depart for the United Arab Emirates on September 4. Placed in Group A alongside Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, India will face the UAE on September 10 in Dubai, followed by a high-profile clash against Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage match is against Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19. Group B features Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Four stage to determine the finalists for the September 28 showdown.
