Apollo Tyres Becomes New Indian Cricket Team Jersey Sponsor

When a brand puts its name on the Indian cricket team’s jersey, it’s not just about logos—it’s about prestige, massive visibility, national pride, and business strategy. In a high-stakes move, Apollo Tyres has just been confirmed as the new lead jersey sponsor of Team India, taking over from Dream11 after some dramatic rule changes. Here’s everything known so far, and what it might mean both for Indian cricket and for Apollo.

Apollo Tyres New Sponsor Of Indian Cricket Team

Why the Indian Cricket Team Sponsorship Had to Change

Regulatory Pushback on Online Gaming / Real-Money Platforms
Dream11, which was the previous jersey sponsor, saw its deal unravel because of a newly enacted law in India: the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act. This legislation essentially placed bans and restrictions on real-money gaming platforms and their advertising. As Dream11 is such a platform, they had to exit from the sponsorship arrangement.
BCCI’s New Tender, Tightened Sponsorship Rules
Once Dream11’s deal was off the table, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) floated a new tender to find a sponsor. They placed eligibility filters: companies connected to real-money gaming, betting, crypto or tobacco would not be permitted. This opened the door for more “traditional” industries to compete.
Financial Uplift & Brand Visibility
Indian cricket has one of the most packed international schedules, especially across formats and bilateral/ICC tournaments. Brands recognize the global visibility. BCCI also raised their base rates for sponsorships (per match) to reflect this. So there was both a need (to replace Dream11) and an opportunity for brands with strong pocket depth.

Who All Were in the Race for Indian Cricket Team Sponsorship

Multiple companies bid or showed interest. Key players:

Apollo Tyres – ultimately the winner.
Canva – one of the top challengers. Apollo outbid them.
JK Cements – also in strong contention.
Birla Paints / Birla Optus Paints – considered or showed interest but apparently did not bid formally.
Other interested parties (purchased tender documents) but didn’t turn up for formal bidding: e.g. Shank Air, Omniyat.

So it was a competitive process, not just a rubber stamp. That helps both visibility and credibility of the outcome.

The Deal: How Much, Duration, What It Covers

Aspect	What’s Known
Total Value	~ ₹579 crore for the full deal.
Duration	3 years, from 2025 till 2027.
Number of Matches Covered	142 in total: 121 bilateral matches + 21 ICC tournament matches.
Per-Match Fee	Approximately ₹4.5 crore per match. This is higher than what Dream11 was paying (~₹4 crore).
Base Rates/Benchmarks	BCCI’s base price: approx. ₹3.5 crore for bilateral matches & ₹1.5 crore for matches in multilateral / ICC tournaments. This helps us understand how aggressive the Apollo bid was.

When Will the Logo Appear, and On What Jerseys

The first exposure of the Apollo Tyres logo on India’s main jersey is expected during the two-match home Test series against West Indies, starting October 2, 2025.
Also on India A’s three-match ODI series vs Australia A in Kanpur around the same time (dates ~ September 30, October 2, 5).
Until then, during the Asia Cup 2025, the men’s team is playing without a lead jersey sponsor’s logo (since Dream11’s exit and before Apollo’s logo comes into effect).

What “Three Years” Really Means

The contract runs through 2027, so it spans several international windows: bilateral series, ODI/T20/Tests, and ICC tournaments.
Because India plays many matches per year (both home and away), this gives Apollo a lot of visibility across geographies, formats, and media platforms. It also means BCCI locks in revenue for that period—good for financial planning.

Financial Implications & Strategic Value

For Apollo Tyres:
This is one of their biggest brand moves in India’s sports space. The value isn’t just in the logo—it’s in broadcast visuals, association with team India’s successes, merchandising (if permitted), digital content. Every home match, every ICC tournament, every televised game brings exposure in India and abroad. Also, tyres being a mass-consumer product, there’s alignment in visibility at national levels.
For BCCI / Indian Cricket:
Replacing a sponsor that had to exit is tricky. They needed a stable, high paying sponsor quickly, especially since the legislation created uncertainty. Getting ₹579 crore over three years helps offset revenue gaps. It also sets a benchmark for future sponsorships—not just prices, but what kinds of industries are acceptable.

Possible Questions / Unknowns

Women’s Team: It’s not yet fully clear when the same logo/sponsor will appear on the women’s team jerseys (e.g. World Cups). Some reports suggest that may happen, but timing may vary.
Merchandising Rights / Other Branding: Whether Apollo gets exclusive merchandising on fan apparel, or secondary exposures, isn’t fully public yet. Usually, these are part of the package, but details matter (placement, exclusivity, etc.).
Match-wise Variation: ICC tournaments vs bilateral matches may have different “value” (e.g. more viewership, more media rights). Even though the “per-match average” is around ₹4.77 crore, actual value per fixture may vary.

What This Means for Fans, the Sport, and Sponsorship Landscape

Visually, fans will see the Apollo badge on India’s jersey from early October in Tests and in some ODIs. There might be a fresh jersey design or version adjusted for logo layout.
Commercially, the deal raises the benchmark: brands will see that even without fantasy gaming / real–money platforms, there’s willingness to spend heavily. It may open up the sponsorship pool.
Regulatory Oversight Will Be Key: BCCI’s filtering of eligible sponsors underlines how legal/regulatory frameworks shape sports business. Brands from sectors previously considered “normal” may now face scrutiny.

Indian Cricket Team New Sponsor : Conclusion

Apollo Tyres stepping in as the jersey sponsor of Team India is more than just a logo swap. It reflects regulatory changes, commercial competition, and evolving norms about what kinds of companies are permissible in high-visibility roles. For Apollo, it’s a huge opportunity to deepen brand presence; for BCCI, it’s a sign of resilience and adaptability. And for fans, it means the familiar blue will soon carry a new badge—one that signals more than just tyres.

Prashant

Hi, I’m Prashant Jain — a curious soul, storyteller, and content creator at heart.I’ve always been drawn to the world of entertainment, travel, sports, health & lifestyle — not just as a writer, but as someone who genuinely lives these experiences. Whether I’m binge-watching the latest OTT series, exploring offbeat spiritual destinations in India, or diving deep into wellness routines and cricket match insights, I love sharing what I discover with like-minded readers.
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