NEW DELHI: Apollo Tyres has secured the lead sponsorship rights of the Indian cricket teams with a winning bid of INR 579 crore, outpacing Canva (INR 544 crore) and JK Cements (INR 477 crore) in a closely contested three-way race.
The Gurgaon-based tyre major, which operates in more than 100 countries, will hold the rights for two and a half years until March 2028. The deal covers 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC fixtures, making it Apollo Tyres’ first-ever entry into Indian cricket sponsorship.
“The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday announced a landmark partnership with Apollo Tyres, a leader in the global tyre industry, as the new lead sponsor of Team India. This marks Apollo Tyres’ first-ever foray into India cricket, a strategic move to align with a sport that resonates deeply with the nation.
“The new partnership, secured after a rigorous bidding process, represents a substantial increase in sponsorship value, signifying the immense and growing commercial appeal of Indian cricket,” the BCCI said in a statement.
As part of the agreement, Apollo’s logo will appear on the jerseys of the Indian men’s and women’s teams across all formats.
“We are excited about this being Apollo’s first major sponsorship in India cricket, which speaks volumes about the sport’s unparalleled reach and influence. This is more than a commercial agreement; it’s a partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.
The sponsorship void emerged after Dream11 was forced to withdraw in August, following the government’s passage of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025, which banned real-money gaming, the fantasy sports company’s core business.
Dream11’s contract with the BCCI, valued at approximately INR 358 crore (US$44 million) for 2023–2026, was cut short, leaving both the men’s and women’s teams without a lead sponsor during their ongoing Asia Cup campaign in the UAE and bilateral ODI series against Australia, respectively.
To fill the vacancy, the BCCI issued an expression of interest on September 2, with September 16 set as the deadline for bids. The board made clear that alcohol, betting, gambling, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco brands, or any product “likely to offend public morals” — including pornography — were barred from bidding.
Agencies