The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has invited expressions of interest for the coveted Team India lead sponsor rights. This comes after fantasy gaming platform Dream11 stepped down as the official jersey sponsor. The new sponsorship deal is expected to fetch the board a significant sum, with reports suggesting a valuation of around ₹452 crore.
On Tuesday, the BCCI officially issued an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI) for National Team Lead Sponsor Rights. This announcement was made public through the board’s website. While BCCI did not disclose specific financial details, industry insiders suggest the new contract could be worth several hundred crores, further boosting the board’s commercial revenue.
According to media reports, BCCI is targeting a sponsorship deal valued at approximately ₹452 crore. Interested companies and brands can purchase the IEOI between September 2 and September 12. The cost for Indian entities is set at ₹5,90,000, while international entities will need to pay $5,675.
The deadline for submission of final bid documents is September 16, 2025. This timeline gives interested parties just under two weeks to finalize their participation.
The BCCI has laid out strict financial requirements for brands looking to participate in the bidding process. Companies must show either:
An average turnover of ₹300 crore over the last three financial years, or
An average net worth of ₹300 crore during the same period.
All financials must be supported by audited accounts, ensuring that only credible and financially strong companies participate.
According to people familiar with the matter, Toyota Kirloskar Motor—a joint venture between Japan’s Toyota Motor Corporation and India’s Kirloskar Group—is reportedly exploring the opportunity to become Team India’s next lead sponsor.
If finalized, this could mark a major collaboration between one of the world’s leading automotive giants and India’s most-followed cricket team.
While BCCI is inviting fresh sponsorship bids, not all categories of companies are eligible. To avoid conflict of interest with existing sponsorship deals, BCCI has barred certain categories from bidding. These include:
Athleisure and sportswear manufacturing brands
Banks and financial services companies
Non-banking financial institutions
Non-alcoholic cold beverage brands
Home appliance companies (such as fan, mixer-grinder, or safety lock manufacturers)
Insurance companies
However, existing sponsors from these categories are allowed to upgrade and bid for the lead sponsorship slot.
Following the introduction of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, BCCI has added real-money gaming (RMG) to its list of ineligible sectors. This means that no RMG companies will be allowed to bid for Team India’s lead sponsorship rights, closing the door for several popular gaming platforms.
With the Asia Cup 2025 scheduled to begin on September 9, Team India could potentially enter the tournament without a sponsor logo on the front of their jerseys. If the bidding process is not finalized before the Asia Cup, fans may see India’s iconic blue jerseys remain sponsor-free for the first few matches.
Conclusion
The hunt for Team India’s next lead sponsor has officially begun, and the BCCI is eyeing a high-value deal that could significantly add to its revenues. With Toyota Kirloskar Motor and other big brands showing interest, the competition is expected to be fierce. However, with restrictions placed on certain sectors, the final sponsor will likely come from industries outside sportswear, banking, insurance, and beverages.
Cricket fans and market watchers will be keeping a close eye on developments as the September 16 bidding deadline approaches.