Apollo Tyres has secured the rights to be the new jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team in a multi-crore deal, replacing the previous sponsor, Dream11. The Gurugram-based company won a three-way bidding race, outcompeting Canva and JK Cement, with a winning bid of ₹579.06 crore for a two-and-a-half-year partnership. The new sponsorship will see the Apollo Tyres logo featured on the jerseys of the Indian men's and women's national teams across all formats until March 2028.
According to insiders from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the sponsorship deal covers an estimated 141 fixtures, including 121 bilateral games and 20 matches in international events organized by the ICC. The cost per game for Apollo Tyres is approximately ₹4.77 crore for bilateral matches, with a different value of around ₹1.72 crore per fixture for ICC and multinational events.
The need for a new sponsor arose suddenly after Dream11 pulled out of its contract. This was a direct result of the Indian government passing the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act 2025, which criminalized real-money-based online games, Dream11's core business. With Dream11's last-minute withdrawal, the Indian team had to feature in the ongoing Asia Cup without a jersey sponsor, a rare sight in modern cricket.
Neeraj Kanwar, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Apollo Tyres, expressed the company's pride in the partnership. "Cricket’s unmatched popularity in India and worldwide makes it an honour for us to become the National Team Lead Sponsor of Team India," he said. He added that the partnership is a statement of "national pride, strengthening consumer trust, and showcasing Apollo as a true leader in our category, while supporting Indian sport at the highest level."
The BCCI also expressed its enthusiasm for the new partnership. In a statement, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia said, "The arrival of Apollo Tyres as our new sponsor is a testament to the hard work and consistent performance of our teams." He added that this agreement is "more than a commercial agreement; it's a partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions." The new sponsorship will begin with India's two-Test home series against the West Indies on October 2.
