In a landmark development for Indian cricket, Apollo Tyres has stepped in as the official jersey sponsor for both the men’s and women’s national teams, agreeing to pay ₹4.5 crore per match—a significant jump over the previous rate of ₹4 crore Moneycontrol+2The Indian Express+2.
A High-Value Deal
Announced on 16 September 2025, the deal spans until March 2028, covering a mix of 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC fixtures, and is valued at a staggering ₹579 crore—a 62% increase compared to the ₹358 crore Dream11 had initially promised for the same duration The Times of India+2The Economic Times+2.
Why This Matters
The agreement follows the premature exit of Dream11 due to the Indian government’s ban on real-money gaming under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 India Today+2NDTV Sports+2. Faced with the empty sponsorship slot, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) quickly filled the gap with Apollo’s bid, signaling strong market confidence in Team India’s brand value.
Apollo’s ₹4.5 crore per match fee significantly exceeds Dream11’s previous ₹4 crore per game arrangement and reflects the enhanced earning potential tied to Team India’s brand exposure in regional and global tournaments Moneycontrol+1.
BCCI’s Perspective
According to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, this is more than just a commercial contract—it’s a “partnership between two institutions that have earned the trust and respect of millions” Reuters+1. The deal not only boosts BCCI’s sponsorship income but also underlines cricket’s unmatched power in India.
Vice-President Rajeev Shukla emphasized that the competitive bidding—against companies like Canva and JK Cement—invalidated any notion that only flashy brands could win such rights. Instead, the emphasis was on reliable visibility and legacy, attributes Apollo Tyres brings to the table The Indian Express+1.
What Apollo Gains
The company’s logo will appear on front jerseys during bilateral matches, and on the sleeve during ICC tournaments where front-of-jersey placements are forbidden by regulations. Despite this restriction, the ₹4.5 crore-per-match valuation still averages out immensely valuable exposure The Indian Express.
For Apollo Tyres—a Gurugram-headquartered global tyre maker founded in 1972—this represents its first-ever major sponsorship in Indian cricket. It is poised to boost its visibility across cricket-loving markets in India and abroad Reuters+1.
Broader Impacts on Cricket Marketing
This new sponsorship structure marks a steep rise in the commercial valuation of Indian cricket. Reports from early September 2025 indicate that BCCI raised baseline sponsorship rates to ₹3.5 crore per bilateral match, and ₹1.5 crore per match for multilateral tournaments The Economic Times. Apollo’s deal exceeding these benchmarks reflects strong demand and renewed pricing power.
Other shortlisted bidders included Canva, which offered ₹4.28 crore per match, and JK Cement at ₹3.7 crore—both falling short of Apollo’s winning bid of ₹4.5 crore The Indian Express.
What Comes Next
India’s men’s and women’s squads are currently playing in the Asia Cup and other series without jersey branding. The new Apollo jerseys are expected to debut soon, with the men’s team set for a home Test series against the West Indies from 2 October 2025, where the logos will likely be visible to packed stadiums and global viewers Wikipedia+1.
In Summary
- Apollo Tyres replaces Dream11 as the lead sponsor for both India men’s and women’s cricket teams.
- They will pay ₹4.5 crore per international match through March 2028.
- The deal totals around ₹579 crore, eclipsing previous records.
- The partnership reflects increased BCCI sponsorship rates and the enduring appeal of cricket in India’s commercial ecosystem.
With this move, Apollo Tyres is not just buying logo space—they’re associating with one of the most powerful brands in Indian sport. For cricket and corporate India, it’s a win-win on a historic scale.
