Indian Cricketers Set to Lose INR 150-200 Crores Following Government’s Decision to Ban Money-Related Fantasy Platforms

Following new regulations, IPL teams such as KKR, SRH, and LSG might also terminate their sponsorship deals with online gaming platforms.

Indian Cricketers Set to Lose INR 150-200 Crores Following Government’s Decision to Ban Money-Related Fantasy Platforms

Indian players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni could lose a source of income, following government regulation on online gaming apps. (via Facebook)

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Not just the BCCI or the Indian cricket team, but several Indian cricketers might also face the impact of the government’s new law on online gaming platforms, including Dream11 and My11Circle. Players could lose INR 150-200 crores combined, if their advertisement contracts are terminated. 

Online gaming platforms are among the biggest spenders on advertising and endorsements in Indian cricket. Dream11 led the charge in 2023, after signing a massive INR 358-crore deal with BCCI to become the lead jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team on a three-year deal, until March 2026. My11Circle, Winzo and Mobile Premier League (MPL) are the other major players that spend heavily.

However, the Indian government most recently passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which effectively puts the online gaming industry under stricter norms. The new law also puts an end to all forms of real-money contests on fantasy gaming platforms, which in fact forms up to 90 percent of the revenue that is generated by these platforms, like Dream11 and My11Circle. 

The new law also prohibits advertising these real-money online games. After BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia announced an end to Dream11’s contract with the Indian team, it is expected that these online gaming platforms would also end their association with several Indian cricketers. Indian players might therefore, lose close to INR 150-200 crores combined from the loss of their endorsement contracts. 

Players like MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma could lose a lot of money, if their advertisement contracts with these gaming platforms are terminated. Dream11 leads the line for the most number of players associated with it, including Indian ODI captain Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya, while Kohli is associated with MPL, and Dhoni with Winzo. 

My11Circle has contracts with many former as well as current players, including Test captain Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Saurav Ganguly. With the new regulations in place, Kohli could lose his MPL contract, reportedly worth INR 10-12 crores annually, while Rohit’s and Dhoni’s contracts with Dream11 and Winzo, respectively, are worth around INR 6-7 crores.

Furthermore, reports suggest that the online gaming sector could face losses of up to INR 8,000-10,000 crores. In cricket, My11Circle’s annual INR 125-crore contract as the IPL’s official fantasy partner could also be annulled, potentially marking a complete exit of these gaming platforms from Indian cricket.

Major Brands Eye Indian Cricket Team Sponsorship Following Dream11’s High-Profile Exit

Dream11’s exit from the Indian cricketing space, has opened the door for new companies to pursue a sponsorship deal with the BCCI. Several reports indicate the Japanese automobile giants Toyota Motors and a fin-tech start-up are among the front-runners to become the new sponsor. 

Dream 11 India sponsor
The end of Dream11’s contract with the Indian cricket team has paved the way for new companies to step in. (via News 18)

The new sponsor for the Indian cricket team, would have their logo printed in front of the Indian Men’s and Women’s cricket team jersey, presenting a lucrative advertisement opportunity. The BCCI has not yet officially invited bids, but secretary Devajit Saikia has indicated that new tenders will be floated before the start of the 2025 Asia Cup next month.

Apart from Toyota and a fin-tech start-up, several other companies could be in line. Tata Group could also be interested in sponsoring the national cricket team, having previously stepped into cricket through their title sponsorship deal in the IPL. Gautam Adani-owned Adani Group, who had sponsored the Indian Olympic contingent during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the 2022 Asia Games.

If the BCCI is unable to finalize a new sponsorship deal before the Asia Cup, the Indian T20I team will play without a primary sponsor on their jerseys. Sources have also confirmed that while the team’s Asia Cup jerseys featuring the Dream11 logo have already been printed, they will not be used in the UAE.

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