India’s RMG Ban Leaves Cricket Without Sponsors, Apollo Tyres Steps In as New Partner

Starting October 1, India’s ban on RMG games has already led to widespread termination of sponsorship deals in domestic cricket.

Cricket’s Losses After the RMG Ban

The country’s flagship league, the IPL, lost contracts with major fantasy sports operators:

• My11Circle — $15M per year;
• Dream11 — title sponsor;
• Kolkata Knight Riders, Lucknow Super Giants, and Sunrisers Hyderabad were left without primary sponsors.

Fantasy operators contributed up to 40% of IPL’s ad revenue. Now, players across the league collectively stand to lose between $14M and $26M in personal endorsement deals, including Virat Kohli’s $1.05M contract with “MPL.”

Impact on International Tournaments

The European Cricket Network postponed the launch of its European T20 League to 2026 due to the loss of sponsorship funding triggered by India’s RMG ban. This highlights the global scale of the new regulations’ impact.

Apollo Tyres Replaces Dream11

India’s men’s and women’s national teams quickly secured a new title sponsor, signing a $66M deal with Apollo Tyres through March 2028.

The company’s logo will now appear on team jerseys across all formats. This marks Apollo Tyres’ first major sponsorship move in Indian cricket.

BCCI on the New Deal

BCCI officials emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership:

• Devajit Saikia, BCCI Secretary: called the deal “a testament to the teams’ performance and success.”
• Rajeev Shukla, Vice President: noted cricket and Apollo Tyres represent “two powerful Indian traditions.”
• Prabhtej Singh Bhatia, Treasurer: highlighted the “global appeal of Indian cricket.”
• Rohan Gauns Dessai, Joint Secretary: stressed the “shared passion for excellence.”
• Nirad Kanwar, Vice Chairman of Apollo Tyres: said partnering with Team India is “an honor and a matter of national pride.”

Contract Comparison

Conclusion

India’s RMG ban has shifted the financial balance in cricket. The league and its players lost millions of dollars in sponsorships, but the national teams secured a strong replacement in Apollo Tyres, signing a record deal that replaces Dream11.

Despite short-term setbacks from the exit of fantasy operators, Indian cricket remains highly attractive to major brands and continues to be a cornerstone of sports both domestically and internationally.