The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced on Tuesday that Apollo Tyres will be the new jersey sponsor of the Indian cricket team. The confirmation came through an official media release.

Although BCCI did not reveal the exact deal amount, reports suggest Apollo Tyres will pay ₹579 crore. The company won the contract after a tough three-way bidding battle.

This is the first time Apollo Tyres has partnered with Indian cricket. The sponsorship deal will run for two and a half years, ending in March 2028. During this period, the brand will feature on Team India’s jerseys across 121 bilateral matches and 21 ICC games, making a total of 142 matches.

As a result, the sponsorship will cost Apollo Tyres about ₹4.77 crore per match.

Apollo Tyres Outbids Canva and JK Cement

In the competitive bidding process, Apollo Tyres faced stiff competition. Canva placed a bid of ₹544 crore, while JK Cement offered ₹477 crore. Ultimately, Apollo Tyres outbid both companies by offering ₹579 crore, thereby securing the rights to become the official jersey sponsor of Team India.

Dream11 Exit Paves the Way for Apollo Tyres

The entry of Apollo Tyres became possible only after Dream11 ended its contract with BCCI. Dream11 had previously signed a three-year deal worth ₹358 crore, which was supposed to run until 2028.

However, due to the Online Gaming Bill 2025, Dream11 was forced to cancel its agreement. The new law, recently passed by Parliament, bans real-money games and their advertisements across India.

Consequently, Dream11 had to shut down its fantasy gaming operations, leaving BCCI without a jersey sponsor. This sudden exit led to a fresh bidding process, which eventually resulted in Apollo Tyres winning the sponsorship.

A Significant Change for Indian Cricket

The shift from Dream11 to Apollo Tyres marks an important change for Indian cricket. On one hand, it allows Apollo Tyres to strengthen its global brand presence by associating with one of the world’s most popular cricket teams. On the other hand, it provides BCCI with financial security ahead of several key bilateral series and ICC tournaments in the coming years.

Thus, the deal benefits both the company and Indian cricket, creating a strong partnership at a crucial time for the sport.